Times of Malta – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) suggests that a future EU approach on igaming could be based upon the blueprint used for financial services, whereby a licensed operator in one member state should be recognised by other member states.
On September 10, the European Parliament voted on a resolution on online gambling where MEPs, by a vote of 572 to 79 (with 61 abstentions), called on the European Commission to pursue enforcement action against member states whose online gambling regimes fall foul of internal market rules, while simultaneously upholding the right of member states to limit market access on grounds of morality or public order as interpreted in that member state.
The resolution reaffirms the present situation as arising out of the decisions of the European Court of Justice which leaves it up to member states whether they accept the online offer coming from an operator established and licensed in another member state.
As more EU countries are actively issuing their own gaming licences in response to the online offer coming from outside, EGBA director Ewout Keuleers said: “EGBA will continue to advocate for a European approach to the industry without surrendering on vested EU rights. One needs to observe that member states are reforming their national laws and this should not prejudice EU rights and cross-border consumer choice.
“Against that context, EGBA would suggest that a future EU approach could be based upon the blue-print used for financial services, whereby a licensed operator in one member state, for example Malta, should be recognised by other member states under the so-called passport system. In line with its Manifesto for a Sustainable EU Policy for Online Gambling, EGBA will be calling upon the new EU Commission to take steps forward in that direction between 2015 and 2020”.
Mr Keuleers is in Malta as a speaker at a public dialogue with MEPs and industry on online gaming being held at Europe House tomorrow, another event in the series launched by the European Parliament Information Office in the run-up to the European Parliament Elections on May 24 next year.
