EU BYTES
Former Executive Director of the European Casino Association and current Managing Director of Time & Place Consulting, Glenn Cezanne provides the latest info on what’s trending and what’s coming down the pipeline in Brussels and around the EU.
EU Bytes T
Glenn Cezanne Tackling illegal content
In the last edition I provided some highlights on the debate surrounding illegal gambling operations. On 28th September, the European Commission published a non-binding Communication on tackling illegal content online. It provides “guidelines and principles for online platforms to step up the fight against illegal content online in cooperation with national authorities, Member States and other relevant stakeholders”. Although no specific reference is made to gambling, many key issues reflected therein could be tied to what Member States would consider questions relevant to their gambling regime and, as such tackling illegal gambling operations. It aims, for example, to… “…facilitate and intensify the implementation of good
practices for preventing, detecting, removing and disabling access to illegal content so as to ensure the effective removal of illegal content.” “…improve the online environment for children.” And, a legislative follow-up is not ruled out. The
30 OCTOBER 2017
he autumn season is at the door and like every year, half the population of Brussels has a cold. This is most probably attributable to all the handshakes and shared office spaces. I have been spared for
now but at some point, one of the many people who are working hard instead of staying at home and recovering will probably share more than just their information with me. So, let me filter out the EU bugs and give you the bytes. This month’s update will focus on a variety of
issues. I will be looking at gambling-related sports issues, and tackling illegal content. And, as always, there is no Brussels without Brexit, but even more now, the question of the future of Europe. But before I dive into this month’s edition, I want to
ask you to join me in sending warm wishes to our friends and colleagues based in Las Vegas and those that went to the G2E Global Gaming Expo in light of the tragic events that took place at the beginning of October.
Commission in its Communication has set out to hold dialogues with online platforms and other relevant stakeholders. We might see such a next step in May 2018, depending on progress made and loopholes in effective implementation of the guidelines. Some might see it as a warning to the online platforms when looking at how the European Commission tackled roaming charges as it saw that sufficient progress was not made by mobile network operators to lower cross-border phone charges in the EU.
The gambling of sports
Sports is increasingly becoming subject to policy, also because of its increasing role in society. We all know about sports as an integration tool (especially in light of the current migration crisis facing the EU), as well as the importance of keeping a high level of integrity for inter alia sports events organisers and betting operators. But what is concretely being done? With meetings every two to three weeks, the Council of the European Union (CoEU) Working Party on Sport under the Estonian Presidency is looking on further developing the EU structured dialogue in sport. This would set out the opportunity for gambling operators to highlight the importance of combatting match-fixing, and to try and profile themselves as forefront actors on the issue. The Working Party is also focusing on the role of
coaches in society. Planned are non-binding Council Conclusions which are built on consensus before the end of the Estonian Presidency of the CoEU (end of 2017). More opportunity or necessity for discussions on the integrity of sport?
Commission Online Gambling Recommendation Revisited
Following up from the last two editions of EU bytes, the most recent development on Belgium taking the European Commission to court over its “Recommendation on principles for the protection of consumers and players of online gambling services and for the prevention of minors from gambling online”: The Opinion of the Advocate General in the EU’s General
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