EGBA calls for single set of rules for online industry
EGBA said that after European Parliament findings, it recommends policymakers to introduce a single set of rules for the online gambling industry.
Belgium.- The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is once again asking for EU policymakers to introduce a single set of rules for online gambling. This comes after the European Parliament came up with a new study that showed that deepening EU digital single market (DSM) rules to include online gambling could deliver approximately €6 billion in savings for EU consumers and businesses per year.
EGBA is vowing for a single set of rules in order to fill existing gaps in the continent’s consumer protection framework. The study, presented to the Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) on September 2-3, considered the benefits of current DSM measures and evaluated the potential economic benefits by deepening them.
The study showed that Europe could generate €5.6 billion per year in societal welfare and consumer benefits by including online gambling in the DSM. It also revealed that different national rules for consumer protection, like geo-blockings, lead consumers towards betting websites operated outside the jurisdiction.
“The creation of a single rulebook for online gambling would also lessen significant administrative duplication for European businesses. EGBA member companies are based in the EU and offer online betting services across 19 Member States and collectively hold more than 134 online betting licences to do so – averaging 22 licences per company, each with their own compliance requirements,” explained EGBA.
The Secretary General’s word
“Introducing a single set of rules for online betting in the EU makes perfect sense – it would improve the regulation of the sector, save significant money for both consumers and companies and help better protect consumers. That is why EGBA is calling on EU policymakers to ensure that the Digital Single Market benefits the 12 million Europeans who bet online,” said Maarten Haijer.
