In an effort to fight illegal gambling, the European Casino Association (ECA), the European Lotteries (EL) and the World Tote Association (WTA) created the Alliance Against Illegal Gambling. The new group will lend its weight to the Digital Services Act package of the European Commission.
Illegal online gambling threatens the safety of Europe’s players as well as undermines licensed providers when it comes to consumer protection and anti-money laundering, according to the group. Moreover, illegal operators pay no taxes, create unfair competition with legal gambling operators, and jeopardize legal business models and the substantial economic and social impact they provide to member states. They also provide no support mechanism for problem gamblers.
“We strongly believe that a greater convergence among relevant stakeholders of the EU gambling industry is crucial to tackle common issues such as illegal gambling,” said ECA Chairman Per Jaldung.
“By bringing together our voices, we can provide a key support in protecting consumers across Europe. Additionally, we fully embrace the Digital Services Act package, which represents a critical step to deal with this particular social scourge.”
