Press Releases

21.05.2020

BRUSSELS/AMSTERDAM, 21 May 2020 - Speel Verantwoord, the Dutch online gambling trade organisation, has today endorsed the European Gaming and Betting Association’s (EGBA) recently published European code of conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling. The code is the first pan-European initiative for gambling advertising and aims to strengthen consumer and minor protection in Europe by introducing essential standards for responsible advertising content and dedicated measures for social media. The code applies to EGBA members and other online gambling companies who sign up to it, and its application will be monitored by an independent third party. A recent analysis found the code to complement and reinforce the existing regulation of gambling advertising in European countries and, in several countries, the code’s measures are stricter than the existing national rules, due to the detailed and targeted nature of certain parts of the code. Speel Verantwoord, whose member companies include bet365, Betsson, Dazzletag, Flutter,...

12.05.2020

BRUSSELS, 12 May 2020 - The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) has today endorsed the European Gaming and Betting Association’s (EGBA) code of conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling. EGBA’s responsible advertising code, published recently, aims to strengthen the responsibility of advertising for online gambling in Europe, through the introduction of essential standards for advertising content and dedicated measures for social media. The code applies to all media platforms and has a particular focus on minor protection. BAGO, whose member companies account for 70% of Belgium’s licensed online and offline gambling market, will now promote the code and encourage its member companies to sign up to the code. “EGBA welcomes BAGO’s endorsement of our code and their commitment to promoting responsible advertising. We encourage other associations and companies to sign up to the code and play their part in promoting more responsible advertising across Europe’s online gambling sector.” - Maarten Haijer, Secretary General,...

28.04.2020

BRUSSELS, 28 April 2020 – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has today published the first pan-European Code of Conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling. The Code is broad in scope and introduces essential standards for advertising content, across all media platforms, and dedicated measures for social media. The Code has a particular focus on minor protection. The “Code of Conduct on Responsible Advertising for Online Gambling” intends to complement and strengthen existing legal and self-regulatory frameworks for online gambling advertising in Europe(1). The initiative has been developed in the context of the EU Audio Visual Media Services Directive, which emphasises the important role of self and co-regulation in protecting minors from exposure to gambling advertising(2). The Code sets long-term standards for gambling advertising content in Europe and complements EGBA’s more immediate efforts to promote responsible gambling advertising during the coronavirus pandemic. The Code includes specific measures on:...

30.03.2020

With increasing global concern about the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the health, safety and well-being of the general public is of utmost concern. During this particularly concerning time for citizens online gambling companies should act socially responsible and ensure that those Europeans who choose to gamble online can continue do so in a safe and secure environment. In this respect, we strongly oppose the apparent reference to the coronavirus in some recent gambling advertising and urge all online gambling companies to ensure that their: Advertising does not refer to the coronavirus, World Health Organisation (WHO) coronavirus-related statements and/or any other coronavirus-related developments. Advertising does not portray gambling as a solution to social, personal or financial problems or invites customers to gamble online as a solution to boredom. Advertising and websites contain signposted information about minimum age restrictions, national problem gambling helplines and national self-exclusion registers. Customers are closely monitored for...

23.03.2020

BRUSSELS, 23 March 2020 – Global concerns about the coronavirus (COVID19) have led to a 11% drop in forecasted global gambling revenues in 2020* - with 2020 global gambling gross win downgraded from its pre-COVID19 forecasts of $473bn to $421bn (close to 2016 levels), according to industry analysts H2 Gambling Capital's new weekly COVID Impact Tracker. While H2 Gambling Capital expect an increase in online activity, with the online gambling sector moving from 13.2% to a 15.7% share of global gambling revenue, the unprecedented shutdown of major sports events across the globe will hit overall revenues across the entire gambling sector (both offline and online). Currently major sports events suspended or canceled due to the virus include football's the English Premier League, Spain’s la Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga and the European Champions League, as well as The Masters golf major, and the UK’s Grand National horserace - all major events for European bookmakers. In...

10.03.2020

BRUSSELS, 10 March 2020 - The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomes the European Commission’s action plan for the enforcement of EU single market rules[1] published today and urges the Commission to ensure online sectors and consumers truly benefit from the single market. EGBA agrees that implementation and enforcement of EU law is a joint responsibility of both the European Commission and Member States. But that joint responsibility does not negate the special role of the European Commission as the guardian of the Treaties to ensure EU law is adhered to, as well as its role in supporting Member States to avoid potential infringement by scrutinizing their draft laws and maintaining dialogue via the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) notifications. In this respect, EGBA welcomes the Commission’s firm commitment to strictly ensure that Member States properly notify all their draft laws to the Commission. The EU single market cannot...