New Director General for Spanish gaming association

Spain’s Jdigital has approved the appointment of Andrea Vota to lead the online gaming trade association as it grapples with regulatory changes.

Spain.- The digital gaming trade association, Jdigital, has unanimously approved the appointment of Andrea Vota as its new Director General.

The Italian specialises in consultancy on corporate communications and political stakeholder management. He has worked in international public affairs at the firm Political Intelligence and at German IT services provider CIRC.

His new position will see him support Jdigital President, Mikel López de Torre of Sportium, in lobbying for the Spanish online gambling industry as Spain prepares to introduce strict new regulations for the promotion of gambling products, including limits on advertising and bonuses. 

Vota said: “I am very grateful to Jdigital for their confidence and I am very happy to be able to bring my knowledge and experience to the association at such a sensitive time for the sector.

“The online gaming industry faces significant challenges for its survival, and that is why we at Jdigital will be fighting with all the resources available to improve any senseless decision that could harm a safe and fully regulated industry, avoiding the further destruction of jobs at a time of economic crisis like the one we live in.

“We have a fundamental challenge that is to protect the reputation of a self-regulated sector, which thanks to new technologies offers guarantees to users, consumers and, above all, to the vulnerable population.”

Jdigital has been highly critical of new restrictions on gambling promotion proposed by the Spanish government. It has appealed to the European Commission, arguing that the new regulations would go against European business laws.