EU must respect rules of internal market

The Remote Gambling Association stressed its commitment to social responsibility and expressed the need for action to be taken to ensure that licensing and regulatory arrangements within the EU respect the rules of the internal market and provide a level playing field for all operators, irrespective of whether they are in the private or public sectors.

Speaking at a two-day conference in Prague organised by the Czech Presidency of the EU Council and the Academy of European Law, the subject of "Gambling in the Internal Market" was discussed by gambling regulators, state monopolies, academics and industry stakeholders.

The RGA said it was disappointed by the repeated number of false claims about the private sector of the European online gambling industry, specifically that the industry was only interested in self-regulation, that money laundering was a problem and that online gambling led to increases in problem gambling. Defending the industry, the RGA stated its position that "gambling is an activity that must be subject to statutory regulation" and that "limited self-regulation only serves as a complement to that". The RGA argued that it had worked closely with regulators in numerous jurisdictions to develop effective licensing regimes.

Denying that money laundering was any more of a problem for online gambling than in any other industry sector, the RGA said that all EU licensed online casinos were subject to the EU Money Laundering Directive and confirmed that it will shortly be publishing the results of research which shows that the risk associated with money laundering within the EU is smaller than almost any other sector.

With regard to claims that online gambling was leading to increases in problem gambling, the RGA stated that all of the evidence available proves that in regulated jurisdictions the levels of problem gambling for online gamblers are no higher than they are for comparable offline forms of gambling.

"We understand the interest of the state monopolies in maintaining the status quo but they and anyone who has a genuine interest in these issues should engage in a constructive and more objective debate instead of relying on myths and misinformation," said Clive Hawkswood, RGA CEO.

"Genuine player protection, with non-discriminatory standards for all operators, should be the core of any European policy on gambling. Appropriate levels of licensing and regulation can deal will all of the risks associated with gambling, irrespective of whether it is on or offline, and irrespective of whether it is provided by state or private sector operators.

"By now this should be self evident and we would ask politicians across Europe to look beyond the rhetoric of vested interests and concentrate instead on the realities of the situation," said Hawkswood.

Also at the conference, the European Lotteries (EL) welcomed the Swedish government's announcement to continue the discussions on gambling and betting in the Council, the body representing the 27 Member States.