INNOVATE GAMING | MARKETS - EUROPE
Innovate Gaming Review
Andorra
Edition: 1
Andorra, a small country that sits in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, plans to legalise offline and
online gaming. A draft bill was recently presented to the government that lays the foundations to develop
a gaming industry and establish a regulatory framework.
Gambling has been strictly forbidden in the Catalanspeaking nation since the nineteenth century and operating
as a tax and duty free haven, strict casino and gambling
rules have not prevailed in Andorra. Tax remains a sensitive
subject regarding gambling however, the government
has declared its intention to bring taxation in line with
international standards.
The new draft bill would open the door for both land-based
and online casinos that would be available to both Andorran
and foreign firms. The general principle on which the new
regime is going to be based will be that only regulated games
will be available for operation.
Operators would be specified into five categories with individual licenses for each. The first four
categories are arranged for casino, bingo, lotteries and betting, and online gambling, whilst the latter
category consists of a selection of other forms of gambling such as contests and charity raffles.
A newly established “Andorra Gambling Regulator” would be responsible for issuing licenses, sign
agreements with gambling regulators in neighbouring countries, define policies and oversee all gambling
activity. There is also a key focus on security and public order to provide safeguards for consumer
protection and to prevent organised crime and money laundering.
“This is about the opening of a new calm and prudent activity, which can lead to the growth and
emergence of a sector potentially attractive to future visitors,” noted Antoni Riberaygua, Minister of
the Presidency, who also explained that the Andorra Gaming Office is working to establish agreements
with neighbouring countries, saying that, “Complying with regulations without the cooperation of these
neighbouring states was inconceivable.”
Year: 2013/2014
Editior: Michael Robinson
[email protected]
Contributor: Steven Patterson
[email protected]
Publisher: Imad Dou glas
[email protected]
Contact Us
UK office:
113 Queens Road
Weybridge
Surrey KT13 0EW
United Kingdom
Argentina office:
Guandacol 2193
Empalme
Córdoba CP5001
Argentina
E. [email protected]
T. +44 (0) 208 144 2578
W. www.innovategaming.com
W. www.innovategaming.com/es
Regarding land-based gaming, the most remarkable feature will likely be the opening of a casino. This
is going to be the only place in Andorra where, apart from table games such as roulette, blackjack and
baccarat, slot machines will be available.
For online gaming, authorities are keen to approve a licensing system that would permit both local and
global operations. No major detail has been provided yet, but it seems that the Andorran authorities are
trying to set up a regulatory regime that may attract operators aiming at operating global international
platforms.
In addition, a specific system of authorisations would be implemented in order to allow the distribution
of Spanish lottery tickets. Lottery distribution is already widespread in Andorra and therefore, this system
would just be regulating the existing activity.
32
InnovateGaming.com
“Behind the Casino Lights”
All information in the Innovate Gaming Review was created in-house and is subject to
copyright law. All images are owned by Innovate Gaming Ltd. or used with permission.