Spain Court Upholds PokerStars Right to Operate Online Poker room

A Barcelona court has ruled in favour of PokerStars and reaffirmed that the world’s largest online poker company has operated legally in the country ever since it began offering its services in 2001.

PokerStars currently operates www.pokerstars.es under a specific online gaming license issued by the Spanish Gambling Commission (DGOJ) in June 2012 when the Spanish government first began providing such licenses. This week a Barcelona court agreed with PokerStars’ position that it operated lawfully in the country prior to June 2012 because the lack of regulation meant that there was no relevant law preventing such activity.

The ruling rejects the claims brought by Codere, the Spanish multinational gaming company.

“This ruling confirms the legal advice we have been given and which we have followed in Spain for years,” said Paul Telford, Group General Counsel.  “We are very pleased the court agreed with our position and look forward to continuing to provide our licensed poker services as the leading brand in the Spanish market.”

Antonio Vázquez-Guillén, partner at Allen & Overy, PokerStars' counsel for the case, said that the “Barcelona court judgement is absolutely clear in its conclusion that PokerStars has always operated in Spain according to the law. We are very happy with this outcome. It clarifies a question that, in our view, should never have been brought to a Court of Justice".