Fourteen regulators call on European Commission to reinstate expert gambling group

Gambling regulators from 14 EU member states have written to the European Commission (EC) calling for the reinstatement of the EU Expert Group on Gambling. The move is spearheaded by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), which has said the restoration of the group would help “encourage and support a more common and joined-up” approach to regulation across Europe. The group, which previously served as a platform to facilitate the exchange of information between regulators, was responsible for the EC’s 2014 recommendation on consumer protection in online gambling, which still serves as a guideline for EU operators. However, it was disbanded by the EC in 2018 despite its good track record in fostering cooperation between regulators. Its absence has led to a disparity in the cooperation between EU member states in the area of gambling when compared to other industries throughout the EU, according to the EGBA. “Europe’s gambling market is worth €100bn each year, with many millions of Europeans playing, but the absence of the Expert Group means that, unlike any other consumer market, there is currently no formal framework for regulatory cooperation at EU-level,” the EGBA said. EGBA secretary general Maarten Haijer has long championed the introduction of a cross-border regulatory framework for the gambling industry throughout the EU, to facilitate commonality between jurisdictions while also increasing consumer protection. “There is currently no EU framework for gambling regulators to even communicate, let alone to jointly tackle the big issues affecting Europe’s online gambling sector. Most of these issues are cross-border in nature and require common solutions,” Haijer explained. “We therefore welcome the strong commitment to regulatory cooperation and call to action from the majority of Europe’s gambling regulators. “The message to the European Commission is clear: both gambling regulators and the sector itself are united in support of the Expert Group and call upon the Commission to reinstate the Expert Group,” he added. Haijer’s calls were echoed by KSA chairman René Jansen, who said: “Of course, we all must navigate different sets of laws, rules and regulations. “However, by and large, all regulatory authorities have the same objective: to protect consumers, prevent gambling addiction and tackle illegal practices. “The different sets of laws in each country mean that efficient and effective information exchange is vital. We must also show illegal gambling operators that decisive cross-border action is being taken against them,” the KSA chief concluded.