The rise of the iGaming industry in Ceuta
In Ceuta the iGaming industry is expanding thanks to a favorable tax policy that benefits companies in the sector that are established in the North African enclave. In terms of its economic turnover, more than half comes from the gambling industries, which has served to stabilize the productive fabric of the autonomous city with job creation. Large companies in the sector such as Flutter Entertainment, 888 Holdings or Playtech have already opened offices in Ceuta.
Gibraltar's years as the center of the iGaming industry in Southern Europe seem to be a thing of the past. Now it's Ceuta's turn. ©Rabenspiegel/Pixabay
The geographical position of Ceuta places it almost in front of Gibraltar, on the other side of the strait of the same name. But this geographical situation is also symbolic, because the British enclave, which had traditionally been one of the centers of the iGaming industry in Southern Europe next to Malta, is today losing strength before the push of Ceuta that is becoming one of the most important development centers in the industry .
More than just a favorable tax policy
Just a month ago, the Minister of Economy and Finance of Ceuta, Kissy Chandiramani stated in an interview that the city had managed to position itself very favorably for companies in the sector operating on European regulated markets . The tax advantages offered by the city being declared a free port are undeniable. But, in addition, Ceuta offers specific advantages to gambling companies , as the 10% tax on net profit compared to 20% elsewhere.
The expansion of the iGaming industry in the city: from a handful of Spanish companies just a few years ago to more than 30 entities today, has been considerable. According to Ceuta sources, 68% of the turnover in the enclave already comes from companies of or associated with gambling and sports betting ; in Gibraltar's most glorious days as an iGaming hub this figure reached only 40%. In this regard, Chandiramani would have pointed out that his intention was not to rest on his laurels, but "exploring new avenues” in order to attract more companies, not only operators, but also those tangentially related to the gaming industry: such as software developers, cybersecurity companies, telemarketing or consulting and others.
Playtech, one of the most important casino software development companies in the industry, has already had a presence in Ceuta since 2019. And, next to the Spanish operators who were the first to establish themselves in the city , companies such as Pastón, Casino Barcelona, Luckia, GoldenPark or Sportium, we also find important international brands such as bwin (Entain), Sisal (Flutter), 888 Holdings, Betfred or 1XBET.
The most recent addition has been that of TonyBet , a new operator that has reached the Spanish market and has settled in Ceuta.
MGA Games also in Ceuta
On October 19, the Spanish developer MGA organized an exclusive event for representatives of the operators based in the city , which serves as a measure of the importance achieved by Ceuta for the industry. With a lot of humor, the Spanish company presented itself in a recreation of The Comedy Club from the hand of Juan Muñoz, the well-known humorist part of Cruz y Raya, as one of the reference creators of online slots, where attendees could witness some of the titles that MGA will launch between now and the end of the year.
There is no doubt that the bet on Ceuta as a business center of the gambling sector and sports betting has been a huge success and its expansion has not yet come to an end. The comprehensive socio-economic development plan approved by the Council of Ministers for the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, it will boost the digital economy and electronic commerce, keys to the growth of the city in the iGaming sector.
With an eye on Latin America
In addition to pointing out the attractions of Ceuta for companies in the sector operating in the European market, Kissy Chandiramani has also pointed out that the city wants to become a bridge to Latin America . Companies that already operate or are making their way into the Latin American market could take advantage of the advantages offered by the enclave that is located under Spanish and European legislation.
Among the advantages, the Minister of Economy and Finance has indicated the language as the most obvious. Although, if possible more important, are the treaties that New Zealand maintains with Latin American countries and that avoid double taxation . For operators such as 888, the location of Ceuta is key to its penetration in Latin America, which, although it remains a market with some limitations, is attractive enough today for more and more iGaming companies to decide to invest in it.
