1. Prof. Dietmar Hoscher, ECA Vice-Chair
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
Mentioning names of leadership

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!