MADRID: PokerStars has been awarded a license to operate in Spain and will launch http://www.PokerStars.es on June 5 to serve the Spanish online poker market, the company announced today.

"Spain is a very important poker market and features some of the best players in the world," said Gino Appiotti, President of Licensed Markets - Spain, Italy and France, for PokerStars.  "As the most popular online poker site in the world, we are very happy to provide the best variety of games, the safest and most secure online play and our world-class software to the market."

Obtaining a license to operate in Spain underlines PokerStars' commitment to be among the first companies to enter regulated markets when licenses become available. PokerStars operates the leading online poker site in the world and has developed the largest community of poker players through its online sites, sponsorship of live poker tournaments and production of poker television programming.

Spanish regulations now permit residents to play online poker with licensed operators. Spanish players can compete only against other Spanish players as required by the recently passed online gaming law.

"Spain is home to some of the best poker players in the world," said Juan Manuel Pastor, a member of the Spanish Team PokerStars Pro. "I'm looking forward to playing on http://www.PokerStars.es and competing against players from across the country."

PokerStars adds Spain to its growing list of licenses that currently includes France, Denmark, Italy, Estonia, Belgium, Malta and the Isle of Man.  As an industry leader, PokerStars provides a safe and secure environment for players and fans to compete in an array of innovative and traditional poker games and tournaments.

About PokerStars:

PokerStars operates PokerStars.com, the world's most popular online poker site that serves the world's largest poker community, with more than 49 million registered members since it launched in December 2001. It's the first choice of the world's top players, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else, and with the best security online. More hands have been dealt on PokerStars.com than any other site; that's over 80 billion hands and more than 550 million tournaments played.

PokerStars.com and PokerStars.eu operate worldwide under licenses from the Isle of Man and Malta governments, respectively. PokerStars also operates under separate government licenses in Denmark, France, Italy, Belgium and Estonia.