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EASG Conference Prof. Dietmar Hoscher, ECA Vice-Chair

Learn about the European Casino Association (ECA) and its main activities in combating illegal gambling, promoting responsible gambling measures, and supporting its members. Discover the societal challenges and dangers posed by illegal gambling, and explore what Member States and other gambling industry stakeholders can do to tackle this issue. Join us in working together to create a safer and more responsible gambling environment.

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EASG Conference Prof. Dietmar Hoscher, ECA Vice-Chair

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  1. EASG Conference Prof. Dietmar Hoscher, ECA Vice-Chair

  2. About the European Casino Association-ECA • Founded in early 1990s as European Casino Forum • Based in Brussels • 28 member countries • > 900 casinos • > 70,000 employees • Supporter of

  3. Main activities of ECA • Combatting illegal gambling: Demonstrating the need for strong action against unlicensed offline and online gambling. • Anti-money laundering: Promoting the casino industry’s effective processes against money laundering and the need for a risk-based approach. • Consumer protection: Developing, implementing and promoting responsible gambling measures focussed on the land-based casino industry.

  4. Main activities of ECA • Promoting the contribution of the industry & CSR: Demonstrating the positive societal and economic contribution of the casino industry. • Gender Diversity: Promoting gender diversity in the land-based casino industry and reflect the industry’s positive stance on this topic. • European Dealer Championship: Promoting the talent and skill of croupiers in the land-based casino industry. • Supporting members: Implementing GDPR and effective anti-corruption processes in their operations.

  5. The challenge of combatting illegal gambling

  6. The regulatory status quo Application of principle of subsidiarity for gambling services as a sensitive economic activity confirmed by Court of Justice Gambling services excluded from secondary EU legislation Court of Justice has put in place a solid framework for the development and assessment of national gambling legislation Member States have scope to develop national regulation of gambling that is consistent with its societal values Closure of all infringement procedures in the gambling sector by the European Commission in 2017

  7. However: prevailing myths • Existence of European gambling licenses • Mutual recognition of national gambling licenses (e.g. C -42/07 Liga Portuguesa de Futebol, C-203 /08 Sport Exchange) • Existence of legal basis for provision of gambling services without a national license • Difference between ‘black’ and ‘grey’ operators

  8. What is illegal gambling? Some helpful definitions “illegal sports betting” means any sports betting activity whose type or operator is not allowed under the applicable law of the jurisdiction where the consumer is located; Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions – “Macolin Convention” (September 2014) 'illegal content' means any information which is not in compliance with Union law or the law of a Member State concerned; Commission Recommendation on measures to effectively tackle illegal content online (March 2018)

  9. Societal challenge and danger Lack of consumer protection measures Threat of links to organised crime and money laundering Undermines the regulatory efforts on gambling in the Member State Lack of tax contribution and contribution to good causes Market share of illegal online gambling industry in Europe estimated at approximately 50% of online gambling revenue (circa €6.5 billion)

  10. What do Member States do? • Regulatory and political attention to tackling illegal offline and online gambling and development of strong and effective regulatory framework to protect consumers • Strengthening enforcement of national gambling legislation/licenses • Blacklists and Whitelists • IP Blocking and payment blocking • Blocking of advertising and cooperation with online platforms (e.g. proactive take-down of illegal content, trusted flaggers) • Bottom-up cooperation amongst regulators and policy-makers (exchange of information, best practice, support)

  11. What can other gambling industry stakeholders do? • Recognise the important role of intermediaries to tackle illegal gambling (e.g. advertisers, Internet Service Providers, social media companies) • Raising awareness in society of the dangers and challenges of illegal gambling • Enhance cooperation between the licensed gambling industry • Communicate best practices on tackling illegal gambling to regulators and policy-makers

  12. The way ahead • Increased attention at national and international level on combatting illegal gambling through enforcement measures • Illegal online content (regardless of type) is an increasing concern for policy-makers at European and national level • Increased attention at European and international level on tackling money laundering, corruption, tax evasion and tax avoidance

  13. Let’s work together!

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