GSA opens new office in Brussels

The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) today announced that as part of its global collaboration initiative in the creation of standards for the gaming industry, it has established a satellite office in Brussels, Belgium.

Work in the creation of GSA’s Online Gaming Standards is progressing at a fast pace, and Europe has been a leader in the adoption of regulation for online gambling and betting. With the establishment of an office in Europe, GSA will be working and consulting with all stakeholders from both the regulatory and policy domain as well as the industry.

The Association’s primary aim is to bridge the gap in the debate concerning technical requirements and to facilitate the creation of solutions through standards that will yield benefits to regulators, operators, and manufacturers, as well as providing a platform for further development of both domains.

“As online activity spreads and grows in Europe and around the world, enhanced by the spread of smartphones and tablets,” remarked Peter DeRaedt, GSA President, “regulation and technical requirements remain fragmented along [member] state boundaries. GSA believes that at this stage of regulatory and market development in Europe, it seems there is increased focus on compliance for both regulators and the regulated, where we believe adoption of common technical standards could be the next building block and a catalyst for enhanced global collaboration.”

The new office will be managed by Phyllis Farrugia, a GSA Europe Special Representative with more than 15 years experience in EU policy and the reform and regulation of markets. She has held senior positions in both government and industry in various previously monopolised sectors. Farrugia has also held a key advisory position to the Maltese Government and the Maltese gaming regulator for almost a decade, covering areas of EU and international affairs, and regulation policy and participated in multitude of strategic, gaming regulatory debates, legislative proposal negotiations and policy discussions at bilateral, European and multi-lateral level.