European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)

• European Gaming and Betting Association - EGBA
• Objectives
• Membership
• Prevention of problem gambling and money laundering
• Security

"Our mission is to promote fair competition for European online gaming operators and freedom of choice for consumers throughout Europe. We believe that European consumers should have the choice to access all European-licensed and regulated online gaming services that are provided lawfully in their country of origin, without unjustifiable restrictions imposed by states seeking to protect their own monopoly providers. We are committed to and demonstrate an exemplary level of corporate and social responsibility and we support the development of regulatory regimes that are proportionate and non-discriminatory."

European Gaming and Betting Association - EGBA

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is a non-profit organization that is financed mainly through membership fees and donations. It was founded by the seven leading European online gambling companies: Bet-at-home, Party Gaming, Bwin, Expekt, Interwetten Gaming Limited, Digibet. The organization was founded on March 27, 2007 and replaces the European Betting Association (EBA) that was founded in 2003 and campaigned for the rights of online gaming providers holding a European license. The EGBA headquarters are situated in Brussels, Belgium.

Objectives

The Association’s main objective is to make sure that members based in the European Union and holding a European license can offer their services in all other EU member states as well. EGBA strives to provide a reasonable and responsible playing environment for online sports-betting and games of chance in order to guarantee fair and secure gambling. Therefore, all EGBA members advocate for the creation of a regulated, competitive market for the gambling industry and commit themselves to the Association’s code of conduct.

Membership

Once a year, all EGBA members are audited by a professional and qualified third party audit organization for compliance of the code of conduct. Bookmakers and gambling companies have to comply with certain requirements in order to become a member of the European Gaming and Betting Association. These requirements include an in-depth check of their customers, a 24/7 customer service and the possibility to set oneself a maximum bet limit. The web page also has to meet certain demands.

Prevention of problem gambling and money laundering

The combat and prevention of pathological gambling is one of EGBA’s major concerns. Members are obliged to participate in the detection and identification of problem gamblers and their website has to provide at least one link that provides information about compulsive gambling and contact details of counselling organisations. In order to avoid debt, EGBA members are not allowed to grant credits to their customers. The European Gaming and Betting Association is also involved in the prevention of money laundering. Members therefore implement an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policy that serves to avoid transactions that are potentially connected to money laundering.

Security

Gambling Companies and bookmakers affiliated to the EGBA keep customer account information strictly confidential and guarantee secure account administration. Moreover, EGBA members must not publish misleading advertising. The EGBA website includes a list of organisations, associations and initiatives founded by online gambling companies to campaign for more autonomy in the gambling industry. The US “Poker Players Alliance”, the campaign “What’s Next?”, the French organization “Laissez-nous jouer” (Let us play!) and the German association “Kein Monopol” (No Monopoly) are among them.

Contact details

The EGBA can be contacted per mail or e-mail form.

• Mail:
  European Gaming and Betting Association
  11 Rond Point Schuman
  1040 Brussels
  Belgium