The Gaming Standards Association has established a satellite office in Brussels, Belgium and named Phyllis Farrugia as GSA Europe special representative.
Farrugia has more than 15 years’ experience in EU policy and the reform and regulation of markets. She has held senior positions in both government and industry; for almost 10 years, she worked as a key advisor to the Maltese government and the Maltese gaming regulator, covering areas of EU and international affairs and regulation policy, according to a statement from GSA. She has also participated in many strategic gaming regulatory debates, legislative proposal negotiations and policy discussions at bilateral, European and multi-lateral level.
With the establishment of an office in Europe, GSA will be “working and consulting with all stakeholders from both the regulatory and policy domain as well as the industry,” the company said.
“As online activity spreads and grows in Europe and around the world, enhanced by the spread of smartphones and tablets, regulation and technical requirements remain fragmented along Member State boundaries, leading to burdensome inconsistencies for gaming providers active and licensed in more than one jurisdiction,” said GSA President Peter DeRaedt. “GSA believes that at this stage of regulatory and market development in Europe, it seems there is increased focus on compliance for both the regulators and the regulated, where we believe the adoption of common technical standards could be the next building block and a catalyst for enhanced global collaboration between the various stakeholders.”
