EC recommendations get gambling industry support

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) has welcomed the recent EC recommendations designed to help Member States provide a high level of consumer protection for online gamblers.

The recommendations, the follow-up of the 2012 Action plan designed to pave the way for a comprehensive framework on online gambling in the Internal Market, are already largely part of the industry’s normal practice and the RGA hopes that it will aid the formation of laws where online gaming is being deregulated.

Although there are a small number of details that the RGA said it would like to discuss further with stakeholders, it is fully supportive of the Commission’s work in this area and of the vast majority of its findings. The only fundamental concern is that the measures focus solely on online gambling when it is self-evident that consistent and appropriate consumer protection should apply to all forms of gambling.

Clive Hawkswood, the RGA’s Chief Executive, commented: “Despite our reservations about a very small number of the recommendations, we are fully supportive of the thrust of the Commission’s work and the reasonable and proportionate approach it has adopted towards consumer protection. We look forward to continuing our discussions both with the Commission and, crucially, with individual Member States as they consider whether and how to implement these proposals.

“These recommendations are a small step in the right direction which we hope will spur a further opening of the market across the EU. However any changes flowing from them will of course be at the discretion of Member States and therefore we are still a very long way from achieving anything that looks like a real internal market for gambling services.”