[C O L U M N I S T ]
M A A R T E N H A I J E R
Secretary general, European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION NEEDS ACTION RATHER THAN WORDS
In his ?rst column since taking over as EGBA secretary general, Maarten Haijer calls on the European Commission to follow up on its strong statements
onsumers vote with their feet, and on the internet that is even more evident. Instant access, transparency and the lack of geographical limits of the internet have empowered consumers to constantly pursue the best on offer. In the highly competitive international market of online gambling, providers have to supply the ?nest product portfolio to keep customers interested. This may sound obvious, but the importance of the European Commission concluding that without an attractive legal offer, consumers will turn to unregulated – and thus unprotected – websites, is paramount. It shows that there is an understanding of how the market functions at EU level and that simply piling on the regulatory and taxation burden on operators with each new national regulation is not sustainable. For the European Gaming and Betting Association, representing EU licensed and regulated online gambling operators, this is music to our ears. We very much welcome the decision, also shared by the
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EGBA will redouble its efforts as watchdog, reminding the Commission to execute its duties as Guardian of the Treaties and restore legal certainty for the online gambling sector in Europe
European Parliament, that EU action is required for this inherently cross border market. This decision was by far the biggest hurdle in addressing the current regulatory fragmentation across the EU, translating into a multiplication of requirements, unnecessary costs and administrative burdens that bring nothing added in terms of consumer protection. But disappointingly, the Commission has not followed through with a proper regulatory approach, rather limiting itself to proposing a series of nonlegislative initiatives. Even if they address some concerns, non-legislative actions cannot overcome the core challenges of fragmentation of the market that the industry faces today. Nevertheless, EGBA considers that the proposed recommendations on consumer protection, advert ?6??r?B?F6??????r&R6??7G'V7F?fR??'7B7FW2??B?27F?fV?6?&??rF?RW?W&?V?6R?bF?R??GW7G'?F???R7W&RF?BF?W6R??7G'V?V?G2v???&RVffV7F?fR?F?W?v????6?&?f?FR6??Bf?V?FF???2f?"F?R?Wr6???76???6???r??F??ff?6RgFW"F?R7V??W"?b#B?*Tt$v???&VF?V&?R?G2Vff?'G22vF6?F?r?&V??F??rF?R6???76???F?W?V7WFR?G2GWF?W22wV&F???bF?RG&VF?W2?B&W7F?&R?Vv?6W'F??G?f?"F?R????Rv?&??r6V7F?"??WW&?R?6????6Rv?F?UR?r?2F?R6?&?W'7F??R?bF?RUR?B&W&WV?6?FRf?"??7V66W76gV?v?&??r??7???7B?V"F?R6???76??????V?6VB?Bv???V?FW'F?R&?&?FR?V7W&W2v??7B???bF?R#?V?&W"7FFW27V&?V7BF????g&??vV?V?B66R?"?Wr6?????B?bF?W?W'6?7B??'&V6???rUR?rv?F?F?V?"v?&??r?Vv?6?F????F???r?V?&W"7FFW2F?F?R6?W'B?b?W7F?6R?bF?RWW&?V?V????6??????vW"&Rf??FVB?F?W6R?B?F?W"7F???2v???&R??F?RTt$&??&?G??7Bf?"F?R?W?B?V"???&V6V?B?V'2F?RW&6WF????bF?R????Rv?&??r??GW7G'??26??vVB6?v??f?6?F???''W76V?2?F??2?V"?F?Rf?'7B6???'WB???'F?B7FW2F?v&G2UR7F???&R&V??r6WB?Tt$v???6??F??VRF?&???FR??&R7FW2F?v&G26??v?R6WB?b'V?W2f?"F?Rv?&??r??GW7G'???F?RUR?v?W&R7&?F?6?6??7V?W'26?V????66W72F?6fR?BGG&7F?fR?ffW"?bUR?6V?6VB?W&F?'2? * ??wwr?Vw&?v???R?6???p??