Brussels, 14/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - Online gambling operators must respect both consumers and casinos. The European Commission has provided member states with a number of recommendations which they are invited to take up in their gambling regulations. They seek mainly to protect minors, identify gamblers who may be at risk of gambling problems and guarantee socially responsible advertising for online gaming.
Some member states already have their own legislation in this field and others are currently developing it because current laws are no longer up-to-date due to the exponential way in which online gaming has developed (7 million European online gamblers). In an effort to ensure harmonisation in the way this sector develops, the Commission has established basic principles in this field. For the moment, these are non-binding measures but following the impact assessment of them a year and a half after publication of the recommendations in the Official Journal, the Commission may decide to take legislative action.
Protecting minors. The recommendations are, above all, a call to demonstrate common sense, particularly with regard to protecting minors. Some member states - Sweden, for example - have not imposed a ban on minors gambling. Nonetheless, it is up to the member states themselves to decide the age of adulthood, generally 18 or 21. The recommendations indicate that minors should not be able to open a gambling account (there should be an identity check), parental controls should be promoted on online gaming sites, advertising should not be aimed at minors or broadcast during viewing that is mainly aimed at young people.
Knowing and protecting gamblers. The European Commission has also introduced rules on the identification of online gamblers. No accounts should be opened without prior verification of the identity and age of the gamblers. The prevailing principle for operators is to know their customers, protect at-risk gamblers from themselves (0.2 to 3% of the adult population). An online website should not, for example, allow players to gamble if their accounts do not have the necessary funds and should certainly not provide loans. Gamblers themselves must also be able to set their spending limits. Warnings should be made to gamblers of their accumulated losses. A telephone assistance hotline should also be available to gamblers for assistance about their gambling habits. Online gambling operators should also ensure that gamblers can take temporarily time-out from gambling (a minimum of 24 hours) or exclude themselves (six-month maximum). National registers of these gamblers should also be drawn up and regularly be consulted by operators.
Advertising and sponsorship. The Commission has formulated a raft of principles relating to advertising and communication in online gambling. Commercials should not, for example, inflate the chances of winning or highlight gambling as a solution to problems or an alternative to work. Advertising should not put pressure on gamblers, especially vulnerable people (self exclusions). Sponsoring by online gambling operators should be clearly identifiable and should never support events for minors
The European Commission recommends that member states designate online gaming regulatory authorities to monitor application of the rules.
The industry has responded rather well to the announcement of these European guidelines, welcoming efforts to reduce risks related to gambling. Casinos and lotteries, however, insist that the member states themselves must maintain control over the introduction of their own regulation. (MD)