Press Releases

02.02.2024

The association publishes its Annual Activity Report for 2023, highlighting key achievements and the latest online gambling data from its members. Brussels, 02 February 2024 – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), representing Europe’s leading online gaming and betting companies, has published its Annual Activity Report for 2023. From driving collaboration within the gambling sector to highlighting the latest online gambling data from its members, the report showcases EGBA’s efforts to raise industry standards and promote greater transparency in Europe’s gambling sector. The Annual Activity Report 2023 showcases EGBA’s recent efforts to raise standards in areas such as anti-money laundering, safer gambling, and collaboration. Notable initiatives from EGBA in the past twelve months include its introduction of robust anti-money laundering guidelines for Europe’s online gambling sector, the association’s work towards the standardisation of markers of harm at European level, and its initiatives to foster collaboration within the sector on...

19.12.2023

Italy’s proposed new fees for online gambling licenses will be the highest in the EU and will make the country’s online gambling black market problem worse, not better. Brussels, 19 December 2023 - The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is deeply concerned about the proposed new Italian decree on online gambling, which is currently under discussion in the Council of Ministers. The decree includes provisions that would introduce a significant reorganisation of the sector, particularly regarding the cost of license fees. The possible introduction of (quasi) prohibitive licensing regimes and fees also raises concerns on compliance with EU law, which will merit consideration. Recent news reports suggest the decree will set an unprecedented €7 million license fee, far surpassing other EU Member States. EGBA believes that such a substantial increase in the license cost is unwarranted, particularly when compared to the country’s previous licensing tenders for online gambling operations....

05.12.2023

EGBA urges the French authorities to regulate online casino games in response to an alarming new study which suggests the country has one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets. Brussels, 5 December 2023 – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) expresses its concern about the findings of a new study into the size of France’s black market for online gambling. The study, commissioned by the national gambling authority l'Autorité Nationale des Jeux, estimates France’s black market for online gambling to be worth up to €1.5 billion annually in gross gaming revenue (GGR), equivalent to nearly half France’s regulated online gambling revenue.[1] This suggests that France has one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets and, to address the problem, EGBA calls on the French authorities to end the country’s ban on online casino games. Although France is one of Europe’s significant gambling markets, it is one...

24.11.2023

The 2023 edition of the annual European Safer Gambling Week saw a record 8 million safer gambling messages shared on social media platforms across 20 European countries. Brussels, 24 November 2023 - The annual European Safer Gambling Week, which took place from 13-19 November, brought together a record number of participants, and led to record levels of safer gambling promotion across many European countries, according to an analysis by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA). Various stakeholders from across Europe supported this year’s initiative to raise awareness about safer gambling and provide practical advice to players and the wider public. This third edition saw a series of engaging events across Europe, alongside a dedicated social media campaign, which covered major platforms[1] and saw unprecedented levels of participation and engagement. More than 160 different partners actively participated, including many operators, trade associations,[2] harm-prevention organisations, and national gambling authorities, signifying a...

22.11.2023

EGBA is delighted to welcome Aircash as its first associate member, with Aircash also becoming the first payment service provider to join the association. Brussels/Zagreb, 22 November 2023 - Aircash, a leading European payments service provider, has become the first company to join the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) as an associate member. EGBA, the Brussels-based association representing Europe’s leading online gaming and betting companies, recently introduced new membership options for companies within the sector’s ecosystem, including payment service providers. Based in Croatia, Aircash is a prominent digital payment platform provider in Central and South-Eastern Europe and offers seamless and compliant financial services that adhere to the range of regulatory requirements in Europe. As an associate member of EGBA, Aircash will contribute its expertise to shape the association's awareness and positioning in the payments landscape. Hrvoje Ćosić, CEO, Aircash: "We are proud to join EGBA. As one of Europe's...

15.11.2023

The Court of Justice of the EU has sided with EGBA in its appeal against the European Commission’s refusal to open a state aid investigation into the granting of lottery licenses in the Netherlands. Luxembourg, 15 November 2023 - The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled today that the European Commission must investigate possible unlawful financial advantages resulting from the way in which the Dutch State granted licenses to incumbent lotteries in the Netherlands. EGBA welcomes today’s CJEU ruling in its favour. In 2020, the Commission concluded that a formal EU investigation into the Dutch licensing procedure was not necessary, stating that the procedure did not provide incumbent lotteries with illegal state aid, and subsequently closed the original complaint filed by European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) back in 2016. EGBA appealed the Commission’s decision to the CJEU in March 2021, asserting that the renewal of...