European Casino Association urges EU Commission to support regulated gaming

Rajashree Seal December 24, 2024

SiGMA news

The European Casino Association (ECA) has announced its manifesto for the 2025-2029 EU policy period. Titled “Winning Together: A Pledge to Fight Crime, Protect Consumers, and Support EU Competitiveness”, the document focuses on the EU’s commitment to creating a safe and regulated gaming environment, protecting consumers through responsible gaming measures and promoting economic growth through fair regulations.

Illegal gambling and consumer protection

Throughout Europe, illegal gambling continues to be a major issue. A recent study by Yield sec, commissioned by the ECA, revealed that illegal operators account for 70% of online gaming revenue in 2024, amounting to approximately €32 billion ($34.24 billion), while land-based illegal gambling contributed another €10 billion ($10.7 billion). These figures highlight the loss of tax revenues for governments and the risks to consumer protection.

In response, the ECA has urged for tighter measures, including stronger enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) rules, support from Europol to combat illegal gambling networks, and fair licensing rules for all operators targeting EU markets. The association has also advocated for risk-based laws to stop unlicensed operators from becoming even more powerful.

The manifesto underscores how important it is to safeguard players through robust regulations. In a bid to block illegal gambling advertisements on digital platforms, the ECA has also emphasised the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Driving economic growth

With 700 casinos operating across 29 countries and employing 70,000 people, the ECA highlights how much the regulated casino sector contributes to local economies. The sector not only supports GDP growth but also creates jobs and fosters community development.

The manifesto stresses the need for fair access to banking services and financial tools for legal operators, ensuring they can compete on equal footing with unregulated entities. The ECA’s members, which include prominent organisations such as Holland Casino, Casinos Austria, the Belgian Casino Federation, and Casino Cosmopol, are united in their commitment to fostering growth while maintaining high standards of consumer safety and operational integrity.

The was published as the European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, begins its new term. The ECA described the document as a “call to action” for EU institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to work together to ensure the success of the casino sector and the wider European economy.

ECA chair Erwin van Lambaart said, “This document reflects our commitment to supporting the EU and member states’ efforts to uphold a regulated and responsible land-based casino sector. We call on policymakers to collaborate with us in safeguarding the integrity of the gaming industry against illegal operators while fostering economic growth and protecting consumers.”

The ECA has also urged the Commission to retain land-based casinos’ current “medium risk” classification in its AML assessment model.

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