Brussels, 15/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 15 November in Strasbourg, MEPs called on the European Commission to examine ways of improving the coordination of member states' action in the online gaming and gambling sector (about 10% of all gambling in Europe, with a market volume in excess of €10 billion) and to devise measures (common standards or a draft directive) for tackling illegal gambling and guaranteeing protection for minors.
In an effort to provide a response to the Green Paper from Commissioner Barnier, published last March, the report by Jürgen Creutzmann (ALDE, Germany) reiterates the right of states to organise their respective markets as they so wish. Member states have, for example, the freedom to choose between total or partial bans on online gambling, maintaining a national monopoly or controlled opening up of the market. Nonetheless, if they want to preserve this right, the European Commission must have the power to continue monitoring their model and will not hesitate to take action at the European Court of Justice in the event of non-compliance with European law, which it has in fact done in the past. It compelled Germany, for example, to open up this sector to other operators. This provision in the report was enthusiastically welcomed by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA).
Nonetheless, at this point, MEPs would like to see European action introduced on a number of very precise aspects, such as illegal gambling and the protection of vulnerable people from the danger of becoming addicted.
In an effort to fight illegal gambling and the black market, the resolution therefore proposes that “member states should introduce a licensing model to provide security for gamblers and ensure that gambling providers meet the criteria imposed by the host member state”.
MEPs are also calling on the Commission “to examine the possibility of blocking financial transactions between banks or credit card issuers and blacklisted gambling providers”.
In the context of preventing addiction and the protection of minors, MEPs consider that controls, such as age verification and restrictions for electronic payment, need to be in place before any gaming activity begins. As well as other possible common standards for operators or a framework directive on these different aspects, MEPs are suggesting the updating of a European code of conduct for online gaming and gambling as “a first step”.
To protect the integrity of sport, the report proposes a common definition for sentencing when fraud is committed in sports, as well as a fair financial return for sports competition organisers, who are subject to commercial exploitation by online gaming operators. (SP/transl.fl)