EC Green Paper on Online Gambling

March 28, 2011 | News Category: Gaming Law

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For some time now, it has been anticipated that the European Commission would be releasing a Green Paper that would deal with the issue of online gambling in the European Union. This anticipated Green Paper has finally been released.

The European online gambling market has expanded very quickly, and the need for some conclusive rules and guidelines in the European market has been apparent for some time. The Green Paper will begin the consultation into the online gambling industry in the EU, and will cover all issues on public policy changes, and also on single market issues.

The stated aim of the Green Paper is to gather the information for a fact-based look at the current market situation, and it will look into the way that different regulations exist across the various online gambling markets.

The four specific areas of focus will be "definition and organization of online gambling services," public interest objectives," "enforcement," and "related services performed and/or used by online gambling service providers."

Michel Barnier, the Internal Market and Services Commissioner, had the following to say regarding the Green Paper: "With this Green Paper, we have launched an ambitious consultation with no pre-determined views on its possible follow-up. The online gambling market in the EU continues to grow rapidly and generates important revenues that are sometimes channeled into good causes."

Barnier mentioned the need to protect EU citizens, including issues such as underage online gambling. He said: "Its [the online gambling market] expansion must go hand-in-hand with a determination to protect our citizens, especially minors, and to ensure that offers of these types of services within the EU are sound and well regulated."

Barnier further explained that the Green Paper is a response to the European Parliament, and also to the EU member states, that all wish for these issues and questions to be jointly addressed. The consulting work that will be taking place will have nothing to do with the liberalization of the European Union online gambling market, but will have everything to do with making sure that the European Union online gambling market will be well regulated, and that the online gambling services that will be offered are all included in this regulation.

The European Commission is looking for input from all areas, including those who are stakeholders in the current online gambling market. Those who wish to submit any information, including data they have, regarding any of the key issues are welcome to do so before July 31st 2011.

No matter what the final report has to say regarding EU online gambling, it will certainly be interesting to see what suggestions come out of the current situation, with many EU member states being hesitant to allow foreign operators to offer online gambling to their residents.