Analysis: Roaming charges end a step towards united Europe
The upside for egaming operators of the EUâs decision to end roaming charges in 2017 is not immediately obvious but it is a meaningful one
News that the European Union has reached an agreement that will end roaming charges for people travelling within its 28 member countries as of June 2017 was a welcome reminder of its value as it faces its biggest existential crisis to date.
The agreement means all EU citizens using their phones in a member country will pay the same rate for data usage, calls and texts as they would back home.
On the face of it, egaming operators are unlikely to see many immediate benefits from implementation.
Most major operators wonât except wagers from customers visiting a jurisdiction where they are unlicensed and the benefits of easier access which might persuade a British William Hill customer to place a bet while on holiday in Italy are marginal at best.
However, the move does potentially mark another step in a broader move towards a digital union which could make things easier for firms looking to operate across multiple European markets.
In March the Commission committed to proceed with its European Digital Single Market plan, with Commission vice-president for the digital single market Andrus Ansip describing the current situation as âabsurdâ.
âConsumers and companies in Europe are digitally grounded. They cannot choose or move freely. In the 21st century, this is absurd,â Ansip said.
Ansip pledged to tear down geo-blocking barriers, although he did single out online gambling as one exception where geo-blocking may continue to be necessary to respect national laws.
Nation-by-nation regulation wonât disappear any time soon, although Europeâs regulators are at least beginning to cooperate more closely to ease operations for those firms with a presence across multiple jurisdictions. In June, for instance, Franceâs ARJEL signed a cooperation and information-sharing agreement with Denmarkâs Gaming Authority.
Alongside greater Europe-wide digital integration a framework is beginning to emerge which will open up further possibilities for all online businesses on the continent. Operators will be watching closely to see where the benefits might extend to them.