Catalan police are investigating former Spanish Finance Minister Cristóbal Montoro, with gambling company Codere implicated in the inquiry. The investigation centers on potential irregularities in how the Ministry of Finance and the Tax Agency handled Codere’s affairs, allegedly facilitated by the consulting firm Equipo Económico.
The Central Anti-Corruption Unit alleges that, under Montoro’s leadership and in cooperation with the National Fraud Investigation Office (ONIF), tax payments from foreign online gaming licensees were leveraged to influence the licensing process and limit the number of operators. Police claim emails indicate Equipo Económico’s involvement in this strategy. Significantly, Codere has been a client of Equipo Económico since 2008, paying the firm €679,000 ($790,577).
The investigation also reveals communications between Codere and Montoro’s former Chief of Staff concerning foreign online gaming licenses. These discussions coincided with Codere’s expressed interest in the online gaming regulations modified under Law 13/2011. Furthermore, the ONIF conducted parallel investigations into online gaming companies seeking Spanish licenses, with evidence including an email containing a list of potential self-assessments.
The Catalan police highlight these findings as indicative of “possible irregularities.” Codere has yet to publicly comment on these allegations. It is noteworthy that Codere Online reported a net gaming revenue of €57 million in the first quarter of 2025, an 8% increase year-on-year.
