EU online gambling report: a missed opportunity
Posted, March 10, 2009 @ 17:00
Strasbourg, 10th March 2009 -- The European Parliament has missed an opportunity to call for a more open and independently regulated gambling market, said Malcolm Harbour MEP, Conservative internal market spokesman, after MEPs voted through a report on online gambling.
It is extremely important to protect both consumers and the integrity of online gambling from issues such as addiction and fraud. This report however fails to reflect the situation in the UK, where well functioning and well regulated markets already exist that allow consumers to play in a safe and secure online environment. The system in the UK has proved how a liberalised, but effectively regulated market, can achieve both a high level of consumer protection and integrity in online gambling.
Some of the provisions within the report (such as calling for the introduction of a maximised amount a person can gamble per month) also run the risk of driving consumers away from well regulated European websites to those outside the EU that may not adequately protect consumers.
Mr Harbour said:
"All stakeholders need to have an honest and open debate on gambling issues and practices. Several member states continue to have their heads in the sand, failing to recognise the realities of a very dynamic and economically successful gambling market."
"Online gambling poses consumer protection challenges but these can be effectively regulated, without prohibition."
"The advances already made in certain countries, such as the UK, and the work of responsible operators shows that standards can be improved by applying single market principles to the gambling sector that increase competition without compromising consumer protection."