European Gaming & Betting Association

Online Gaming and Betting Operators Expand Trade Association

Today, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has been launched in Brussels. The organization replaces the European Betting Association building on the strong foundations laid since EBA’s launch in 2003. EBA has been acknowledged by authorities throughout Europe as a strong voice bringing to the forefront national and European debates regarding the rights of regulated European-licensed operators to offer cross-border services.

In the context of fast-growing and changing markets, legal developments and an intense public and political debate, new challenges have emerged.

In the footsteps of EBA, EGBA aims at promoting the implementation at European level of a competitive, fair and regulated market accessible to operators applying high-level standards with regard to consumer and minor protection as well as other aspects of responsible gaming. The EGBA believes that consumers should have access to a greater choice of regulated European operators and access to the highest possible standards in protection and care, which is more likely to be achieved through regulated competition than in a monopoly environment.

Established in Brussels, EGBA groups the leading cross-border online gaming and betting operators fully established and licensed in Europe, several of which are publicly listed. All the members of EGBA (Bet-at-home.com, bwin, Carmen Media Group, Expekt, Interwetten, PartyGaming, and Unibet) abide by a Code of Conduct listing a common set of strict rules enforcing socially responsible internet gaming and betting. These standards, audited by specialized external bodies, supplement each member’s national licensing requirements imposed by its home European regulator.

EGBA aims at continuing a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders including regulators, EU and national authorities, state operators and consumers. Sigrid Ligné, the new Secretary General of EGBA, comments “It’s time now that all stakeholders put on the table their real concerns and expectations. EGBA has a strong commitment to lead the way to a regulated and transparent European market for the benefit of consumer choice and protection.”

To facilitate common understanding and interactive dialogue, EGBA is launching today its website at www.egba.eu .

Attached is a short biographic note of Sigrid Ligné.

The EGBA is an association of leading European gaming and betting operators. EGBA is a Brussels-based nonprofit making association. It promotes the right under EU law for members based and licensed in one Member State to promote their services in, and accept business from, all other EU Member States.

Sigrid Ligné joined the European Gaming and Betting Association in March 2007 as Secretary General, managing its Brussels based office.

Sigrid Ligné started her career working for the Legal Service of the Council of the EU and the European Commission. She then moved to consultancy. Over the last ten years she has been responsible for several Brussels-based and pan-European lobbying and communications campaigns, working for a wide range of corporations and trade associations. She became in 2001, Managing Director of EuroRSCG’s European Affairs agency in Brussels.

Sigrid Ligné has graduated from the University of Lund (Sweden) and holds a European Law Degree from the University of Rennes (France) and a post-graduate Degree in European Community Affairs from the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium).

Sigrid Ligné is a dual Swedish-French national and speaks fluent French, Swedish and English.

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