Two of the Europe’s most influential gaming associations have given support to a continent-wide agreement that will provide extra protection for those who choose to gamble in the European Union.
Hailed by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) and the Remote Gaming Association (RGA), the publication of “Responsible Remote Gambling Measures” by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) will see a higher level of consumer protection for online players in the EU.
Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA, said: “I am confident that the CEN agreement will help and inform the many Member States currently regulating the market to achieve a high level of consumer protection. It will also provide invaluable input for the Commission’s upcoming Green Paper consultation on online gambling and the follow up measures that are needed to ensure consumers can play in a EU regulated environment.”
The agreement has set nine policy objectives that will help to protect online players and there are 134 measures in place to make sure these are stuck to. The policy objectives are:
1. The protection of vulnerable customers
2. The prevention of underage gambling
3. Combating fraud
4. Protection of privacy
5. Fair gaming
6. Accurate customer payments
7. Responsible marketing
8. Customer satisfaction
9. Safe operating environment
It should be noted that the agreement doesn’t in any way replace regulation across the EU covering gambling in different jurisdictions. It simply complements it and aims to make it safer for those that want to gamble in Europe to do so.
Although the release of this document may be with a view to hastening the arriving of Europe-wide gambling regulations, it’s not something that is likely to happen any time soon in this age of balkanization.
