It is the conviction of the ECA that land- based casinos must be allowed free
access to the online sector. A newly
convened working group consisting of
ECA Board members is working to bring this to fruition. ECA members' access to online distribution channels for casino games is a necessity for an industry that guarantees more than 50,000 jobs in Europe.
that illegal, not duly licensed operators, have created in Europe. Illegal online operators exploit players without regulation or control as part of what we, the ECA, consider to be a successful scam perpetrated by so-called European licence holders operating from both within and outside the EU. Tere is no such thing as a Pan- European gaming license.
All rulings of the European Court of Justice have repeatedly clarified that these licences are, at most, sufficient to offer gaming within their issuing countries. Tis is a state of affairs that is no longer sustainable or bearable. Te regulators of our industry perform their roles with the utmost rigor and dedicated scrutiny aimed at duly licensed operators but seem to have no effective tools to stop this ‘snatch and grab’ of those operating in the illegal online gambling space. Te exposure of these practices is at the very top of the agenda of the regulated industry.
Te members of the ECA call for an efficient fight against unlicensed online gambling offers, as is already implemented today by the financial, gaming and police authorities of the individual European countries, with regard to fighting land-based unlicensed casinos and VLT providers.
Having said this, I want to emphasise the point that the ECA is not against online gambling – just the unlicensed and illegal online
P28 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
gambling as it exists today. In fact, a recent member survey revealed that more than 60 per cent of our members are already directly or indirectly involved in the operation of duly licensed online casinos in accordance with national regulations. Switzerland's restricted model, in which only licensed land-based casinos are allowed an online offering, is one that is strongly endorsed by the ECA as a way forward for EU Member states.
Te ECA member casinos guarantee to carry forward the high standards in gaming, entertainment, compliance, and reliability towards all stakeholders also to the online gaming sector. Which for us, is just another distribution channel and NOT another sector.
It is the conviction of the ECA that land-based casinos must be allowed free access to the online sector. A newly convened working group consisting of ECA Board members is working to bring this to fruition. ECA members' access to online distribution channels for casino games is a necessity for an industry that guarantees more than 50,000 jobs in Europe.
Te ECA continues to be a voice for change in the industry, calling out illegal operators and challenging inequitable regulation – but we also champion and encourage the promotion of best practices. I am especially proud that during the pandemic, the ECA continued with
its EDP education initiative to promote diversity and inclusion within the land-based sector; and we continued to adopt best practices and to encourage and promote responsible gambling. Te Spielbanken Niedersachsen Group in Germany and the JOA Group in France, are the latest members to achieve the ECA responsible gaming certification and we congratulate both members for
I would like to
emphasise the work of our colleagues across Europe in support of the people of Ukraine. We have not only shown our solidarity, but raised funds and dedicated staff hours to support initiatives that make a real difference. For example, we have in my casino company in Sweden just hired six trained dealers who have fled the war in Ukraine.
their dedication and hard work.
Casinos are part of the entertainment and tourism industry across the myriad of environments and locations in which we operate. As an integral part of the service sector, we train and employ thousands and thousands of people across all the various aspects of our casinos, be it gaming, gastronomy, hotels, or events. Te value chain of casinos is strongly locally oriented, and we continue to make a significant contribution to the physical and cultural enrichment of our locations. Integral to this, responsible gaming is not a PR message. It is front and centre and guides everything that we do.
On a final important note, I would like to emphasise the work of our colleagues across Europe in support of the people of Ukraine. We have not only shown our solidarity, but raised funds and dedicated staff hours to support initiatives that make a real difference. For example, we have in my casino company in Sweden just hired six trained dealers who have fled the war in Ukraine. Our unity is our strength and being together again at ICE London is the manifestation of the positive spirit that exists within the European land-based casino industry. On behalf of all our members, we look forward to a great ICE London 2022.
Tank you.
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