EGBA welcomes gambling authorities call to re-establish EU Expert Group on Gambling
17.06.2021
Gambling authorities from 13 EU Member States have called on the European Commission to re-establish the Commission-mandated EU Expert Group on Gambling to facilitate and support cooperation between gambling authorities in the EU.
A group of gambling authorities from 13 EU Member States have written to the European Commission to formally request the reestablishment of the Commission-mandated EU Expert Group on Gambling, the Chairperson of the Dutch Gambling Authority, René Jansen, has confirmed at a webinar this morning. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) fully supports reestablishing the Expert Group to help encourage and support more common and joined-up approaches towards regulating Europe’s gambling market.
The Expert Group provided a platform for gambling regulators to exchange information, share best practices and work together on joint initiatives, such as the European Commission’s 2014 Recommendation on consumer protection in online gambling.[1] The group consisted of representatives from the EU’s gambling authorities but was disbanded by the Commission in 2018 despite most gambling regulators considering it to be a success.
Europe’s gambling market is worth €100 billion each year, with many millions of Europeans playing, but the absence of the Expert Group means that, unlike any other consumer market, there is currently no formal framework for regulatory cooperation at EU-level. EGBA has previously called on the Commission to reinstate the Expert Group and believes that the challenges facing gambling regulation mean that formal and structured regulatory cooperation between EU Member States is even more important to help protect European consumers.
“There is currently no EU framework for gambling regulators to even communicate, let alone to jointly tackle the big issues affecting Europe’s online gambling sector. Most of these issues are cross-border in nature and require common solutions. We therefore welcome the strong commitment to regulatory cooperation and call to action from many of Europe’s gambling regulators. The message to the European Commission is clear: both gambling regulators and the sector itself are united in support of the Expert Group and call upon the Commission to reinstate the Expert Group.” – Maarten Haijer, Secretary General, EGBA.
[1] 2014/478/EU: Commission Recommendation of 14 July 2014 on principles for the protection of consumers and players of online gambling services and for the prevention of minors from gambling online.
About the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is the Brussels-based trade association representing the leading online gaming and betting operators established, licensed and regulated within the EU, including bet365, Betsson Group, Entain, Kindred Group, and William Hill. The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) is also an affiliate member. EGBA works together with national and EU regulatory authorities and other stakeholders towards a well-regulated and well-channelled online gambling market which provides a high level of consumer protection and takes into account the realities of the internet and online consumer demand. EGBA member companies meet the highest regulatory standards and have 145 online gambling licenses to provide their services to 16 million customers in 17 different European countries.
