While other European countries have sought to retain strict controls over online gaming, Italy and Madrid have paved the way for thousands of licences to be granted to the private sector.
The regional government in Madrid revealed that minimum €1 bets would be allowed on games such as online bingo, as well as other online casino games and telephone betting.
When a similar decision was made in Italy, UK companies such as Ladbrokes Bingo, William Hill and Gala Bingo Coral expressed their interest in online licences, with the same players expected to make a move on the Madrid market.
The UK online bingo market is currently booming as more and more players turn from land-based bingo to the online version, with the smoking ban having a considerable effect on playing trends.
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