Brussels, 18/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 17 July, the European Lotteries (EL) published a White Paper with seven key policy proposals for the European Institutions and member states.
With a few months to go until the Commission presents its online action plan in September, the European Lotteries organisation explained in a press statement that consumer protection against illegal operators would be a priority. EL's White Paper focuses on the following points: - cooperate to fight illegal operators - the Council and its Working Groups should study and make proposals for information exchange and administrative coordination between member states to fight illegal gambling; - effective law enforcement to protect consumers: member states need to put in place law enforcement mechanisms against illegal operators, such as blocking of illegal websites and placing illegal operators on a publicly accessible black list; - the unfair operator principle: member states are to act in coordination and refuse licences to operators who are breaking the law in another EU country; - extend the Anti-Money Laundering Directive to all forms of online gambling; - preserve the integrity of sport: the European Institutions and member states need to take strong action against sports fraud and recognise the primary responsibility of member states in the field of gambling. EL would also like the sustainable contribution of lotteries to society to be taken into account in all discussions. (SP/transl.fl)