European Commission to study potential harmonisation
Executive body appoints PwC to report on how best to coordinate online regulation in Europe
The European Commission (EC) has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to explore ways in which Europe could move towards a “comprehensive” continent-wide framework for online gambling.
Following a competitive tender process, the Big Four accountancy firm will spend the next ten months preparing a study detailing the regulatory procedures of 32 EU and EEA member states and propose ways in which these could be harmonised.
In compiling the report titled: “Study on the role of regulators for online gambling: authorisation, supervision and enforcement,” PwC will visit the various national regulatory bodies and interview a number of state-owned and commercial operators.
According to the tender document, seen by eGaming Review, the study will seek to standardise the myriad of regulatory and supervisory structures implemented across member states which has led to “ad-hoc” cross-border cooperation.
“The role and competences of the gambling regulatory authorities differ, yet sufficient competences are crucial if administrative cooperation is to be effective,” the document read.
Specific areas to be explored by the study will include the formation of best practice enforcement measures, such as payment and ISP blocking, plus the possibility of an EU standard on gambling and software equipment.
The make-up of regulatory frameworks across Europe vary from state to state, something which has made it increasingly difficult for operators to remain fully compliant, while licence applications processes can often be repetitive and time consuming.
Last month regulators from France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the UK were invited to a meeting in Rome hosted by Italian regulator AAMS designed to discuss these and other issues affecting the online industry.
PwC and the EC both declined to comment on this article.