Europe Gaming an Betting Association Wants Unified Regulation

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) again calls for unifying the regulation of gambling across the European Union.  The call comes in advance of the EU’s European Commission Communication and Action Plan soon to be released.  This is the EGBA’s last attempt to pressure the EC before the release.  Their goal is create a single regulatory mechanism in effect among all EU member states.  EGBA Secretary General Sigrid Ligne criticized the current situation of twenty-seven individual, different regulatory realities spread throughout Europe, each creating its own separate market.  She demanded a more transparent and fair Europe-wide licensing process for all operators in the EU.

The EGBA deplored the situation in Germany citing that local operators there have repeatedly ignored formal complaints about violations of EU agreements.  Michele Barnier, head of the EC, said in his most recent speech to the European Parliament that there is a commitment on part of the EC to ensure that each individual member state conforms to the EU treaty requirements.   Ligne pressed the EC to deal with the German states’ violations while they were still in the licensing stages.  The EGBA, explained Ligne, has clear evidence that the licensing process illegally excludes other European operators.

Ligne concluded that although the case with Germany is severe, the solution is not in citations and complaints against Germany, but rather EU-wide legislation with teeth.  Similar to the other forms of broad legislation that already exist, the EGBA seeks to enact a single system of legislation, regulation, and licensing in an equal way throughout Europe.  These steps would, in addition to creating a fair business environment, would also help protect consumers.