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The EGBA is a not-for-profit association set up by the eight leading online gaming operators in Europe: PartyGaming, bwin Group, Unibet, bet-at-home.com, The Carmen Media Group, Expekt, Interwetten Gaming Ltd and digibet.
Please see our list of members for more information.
So why is the EGBA fighting against anti-online gambling legislation in Europe? Isn’t it up to individual countries to determine what is right for their citizens?
Yes, subject to an overriding commitment to a single European market for goods, services, establishment and people. Article 49 of the EC Treaty, signed by all Member States of the European Union, stipulates that the internal market should be open for free movement of services. Where any population in Europe, via their elected government decided that permitting gambling even for adults is not in the interests of that population, that is something that the EGBA does not seek to challenge.
Where that is not the case however, the EGBA believes that it is the right of its members who are all licensed and regulated within the European Union to be able to provide their services in those EU countries on a non-discriminatory basis as compared to any state-owned provider and also subject to restrictions which are aimed only at legitimate objectives. We believe that any anti-online gambling legislation which is proposed or upheld by individual member states is likely to be breaking EU law. The EGBA is fighting against this discriminatory legislation as we believe that it is being introduced primarily to protect state-run monopolies.
Opening up markets to competition also gives consumers the benefits of lower prices and a wider choice of products and suppliers. A competitive environment, especially in the online world where technology reigns and trust in a brand is paramount, also helps promote consumer security and game fairness.
