Press Releases

29.10.2020

Spain’s state-run lotteries account for at least 34% of the country’s gambling advertising spend but they will be exempt from the Spanish government’s incoming restrictions on gambling advertising, a move which EGBA considers discriminatory and potentially in conflict with EU state aid rules. Brussels, Today - Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs is shortly expected to introduce new restrictions on gambling advertising, leading to a near complete ban on advertising. Under the restrictions, gambling advertising would be allowed only at night between 1.00-5.00 am and there would be a total ban on gambling sponsorship of sports jerseys, kits and stadiums. But the biggest gambling companies and advertisers, the country’s state-run lottery companies, ONCE and SELAE, will be exempted from the measures. EGBA considers the decision to grant the state-run lotteries an exemption from the restrictions to be discriminatory towards private companies and, by allowing the state-run lotteries advertising privileges, could potentially...

14.10.2020

15 online gambling associations issue renewed call for safer gambling and responsible advertising in Europe during COVID-19. Brussels, Today – As many European countries face the return of more severe coronavirus-related (COVID-19) restrictions, online gambling associations have renewed their commitment to safer gambling and responsible advertising by outlining essential measures which gambling companies should rigorously apply to protect their customers. The reintroduction of more severe restrictions could again lead to citizens spending prolonged periods at home and raise concerns that isolation could increase the risks of addictive behaviours, including those related to gambling. Gambling companies should therefore be vigilant to promote safer gambling and protect their customers, particularly those who are vulnerable, during these difficult times. Despite concerns to the contrary, online gambling substantially declined in Europe during the lockdown between March and May, according to official government reporting.[1] The data published by gambling regulators revealed that, with the cancellation...

25.09.2020

A new report from the European Commission has found that the efforts of EGBA member companies and other major gambling brands has led to a 20% reduction in the unintentional placement of their advertising on websites which infringe on intellectual property rights. Brussels, Today – A new European Commission report has found that an industry-led memorandum of understanding on online advertising and intellectual property rights has led to a significant reduction in the unintentional placement of advertising from Europe’s major gambling brands on websites which infringe upon intellectual property rights. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), published in 2018, was established with the purpose of limiting advertising on websites, such as illegal sports streaming sites, and mobile applications that infringe copyright or disseminate counterfeit goods. The MoU is a voluntary agreement signed by various industry associations which represent Europe’s major online advertising sectors and is facilitated and coordinated by the European...

25.06.2020

Portuguese online gambling association endorses EGBA’s pan-European code of conduct on responsible advertising. BRUSSELS/LISBON, 25 JUNE 2020 – The Portuguese association for online betting and gambling (APAJO) has today officially endorsed EGBA’s European code of conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling, becoming the fifth national gambling association[1] to endorse the code. APAJO will now promote the code to its members and other online gambling companies in Portugal and encourage them to sign up to it. EGBA’s code is the first pan-European initiative for online gambling advertising and leads the way in responsible standards for advertising. The code introduces essential consumer protection measures for responsible advertising content, social media and dedicated measures for minor protection. The code applies to EGBA members, other EU/EEA-based 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...

24.06.2020

Speel Verantwoord becomes first industry group to endorse EGBA’s new code of conduct on data protection and will promote the code to online gambling companies in the Netherlands. BRUSSELS /AMSTERDAM, 24 June 2020 – The Dutch online gambling association (Speel Verantwoord) has today officially endorsed EGBA’s new pan-European code of conduct on data protection for the online gambling sector. The Code of Conduct on Data Protection in Online Gambling sets long-term data protection standards for Europe’s online gambling sector and is intended to complement and reinforce the sector’s compliance with the GDPR. The code is part of EGBA’s wider efforts to drive standards in the online gambling sector and is in accordance with the GDPR, which encourages the use of sector-specific codes to support the proper application of its provisions [1]. Speel Verantwoord is the first national gambling association to publicly endorse the code and it will now promote the code to its members and...

11.06.2020

The Norwegian online gambling association endorses EGBA’s new code of conduct for responsible advertising. BRUSSELS/OSLO, 11 June 2020 – The Norwegian association for online gambling (NBO) has today officially endorsed EGBA’s new European code of conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling, becoming the fourth national gambling association[1] to endorse the code. NBO will now promote the code to its members and encourage them to sign up to it. Maarten Haijer, Secretary General, EGBA: “Norway is one of the few remaining European countries which maintain an exclusive state-owned gambling monopoly and its approach to regulating gambling needs a fundamental rethink. When this happens, companies should be ready to enter the market in a responsible and sustainable way, and NBO’s commitment to responsible advertising is an important step to ensuring this. The responsible advertising code is part of EGBA’s commitment to raise standards and make gambling even safer and we urge other online gambling...