Aiming seriously to ensure the sector has a sustainable future In Europe and beyond
“With demands on safer gambling continuing to grow across European countries, it’s important that gambling companies take their representation in society seriously to ensure the sector has a sustainable future. If we don’t, society will respond, and ever stricter regulation will become inevitable and impact our ability to continue to do business. As companies and associations, we all need to work closer together towards a stronger culture of responsibility and cooperation so that the industry is better organised and represented,” writes, Maarten Haijer, Secretary General, European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)
Because there are way too many operators that sit on the periphery of our sector, don’t contribute to the representation of the sector, and choose not to participate to trade associations like EGBA.
Responsibility certainly requires commitment and resources. But there are some simple rules which companies can follow. Become a member of a trade association if you aren’t already. Invest in relationships with wider stakeholders and our critics. Help develop local industry codes of conduct and apply these. Meet regularly with the political and regulatory leaderships to identify issues and find solutions. Be open, honest, and transparent about your activities. Invest in strengthening the industry voice.
Many of the challenges faced by the sector are common and cross-border in nature and that is why greater cooperation between companies and associations is so important. Enhanced cooperation, particularly around safer gambling, can help industry actors to share information, learnings, and best practices about self-regulatory initiatives that work well, and those that don’t, and create a more supportive ecosystem to amplify the industry voice.
We’re pleased that many national trade associations share this vision – and actively participate to the European online gambling associations platform, which we jointly established with them in 2019. It’s encouraging that participation to the platform continues to grow, and it highlights that a stronger industry voice, through cooperation, is a shared vision across Europe. The platform already brings together 21 trade bodies* to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. It meets regularly and, in many ways, organises cooperation that already existed for many years.
The platform also provides an important launch pad for joint industry actions, including the annual European Safer Gambling Week, which EGBA launched for the first time in 2021. The safer gambling week is an important responsibility initiative to promote safer gambling in Europe and is jointly organised by EGBA and various national trade associations. This year’s edition takes place on 17-23 October, and we look forward to open, honest, and constructive conversations about safer gambling during the week.
Our members take their responsibilities seriously and are working hard each, and every, day to promote safe and sustainable gambling – and cooperate together to be transparent and accountable about their activities. This is part of our collective effort, as EGBA, to contribute to a sustainable gambling sector that can fight for its interests, acknowledges its place in society, and answers the concerns that society might have, both today and in the future. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re pleased to have national partners who’re committed to a stronger culture of industry responsibility and cooperation: in Europe and beyond.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is the Brussels-based trade association representing the leading online gaming and betting operators established, licensed, and regulated within the EU, including bet365, Betsson Group, Entain, Flutter, Kindred Group, and William Hill. EGBA works together with national and EU regulatory authorities and other stakeholders towards a well-regulated and well-channelled online gambling market which provides a high level of consumer protection and takes account of the realities of the internet and online consumer demand. EGBA member companies meet the highest regulatory standards and, in 2020, had 234 online gambling licenses to provide their services to 29 million customers across 19 different European countries. Currently, EGBA members account for 36% of Europe’s online gambling gross gaming revenue (GGR).
*AFJEL (France), AOJND (Romania), APAJO (Portugal), BAGO (Belgium), BGC (UK), BOS (Sweden), DOCV (Germany), DOGA (Denmark), DSWV (Germany), EGBA (EU), HOGA (Greece), IBA (Ireland), IBIA (Global), iGEN (Malta), JDigital (Spain), LIAB (Latvia), LOGiCO (Italy), NBO (Norway), NOGA (Netherlands), PIGBRiB (Poland), OVWG (Austria).
