EU calls for member states to make gambling less risky

The European Union has called for its 28 member states to make gambling less risky.

The European Commission on gambling have called for states to protect minors, restrict advertising, and ensure the provision of basic information on all gambling websites.

This suggestion is contained in a report – that is not binding but simply makes the recommendation that EU member states follow their guidelines when enforcing gambling legislation.

The report, called: ‘Principles for the protection of consumers and players of online gambling services and for the prevention of minors from gambling online’ was released on July 1.

The Commission argues that the increase in online gambling in Europe means that there should be an approach to the industry adopted by all European Union member states.

They believe that the recommendation should be adopted since, while for many people gambling is simply a recreational pastime, for others it is much more serious. Indeed, they state in the report that, between 0.2% and 3% of the population in Europe suffer from an addiction to gambling.

Two Little Fleas have previously reported on the recommendation. However, we have now gone through the document in depth and drawn out the key points for you.

• Information requirements;

• Protection of minors;

• Player registration and accounts;

• Player activity and support;

• Time out and self-exclusion;

• Commercial communication;

• Sponsorship, and;

• Education and awareness.

Information requirements

The Commission has recommended that, its member states provide the appropriate information to the punter using an online gambling site. This includes details concerning the operator; age restrictions; and the harmful effects from gambling, i.e. addiction and so forth. They also call on sites to provide terms and conditions of the deals in language that is understandable for the average consumer, i.e. concise and legible, rather than dressed up in a complicated manner.

Protection of Minors

They call on its states to stop minors accessing gambling sites. While it is illegal to gamble underage now, they want the measures stopping this to be put into place to a greater extent, arguing that currently too many minors are gambling. They also call on advertising to not be targeted at minors.

Player registration and accounts

The Commission argues that players should be verified by their state, and when the identity of a person is not verifiable, then they should not be allowed to register on the site. Players would, however, be able to access a temporary account while they wait to be verified. They also call on gambling operators to protect the money of players while they wait to be verified.

Player activity and support

The Commission asks for gambling operators to also provide greater support for their players. They want operators to offer support functions on responsible gambling, and helplines that provide assistance and information concerning gambling addiction.

Time out and self-exclusion

Gambling websites should allow their punters to activate “time-outs”. In other words, players should be able to exclude themselves from specific games or services offered by individual gaming sites.

These “time-outs” will be a minimum of 24 hours. There should also be a function where a player can actually exclude themselves for at least six months.

Commercial communication

The Commission Recommendation defines “commercial communication” as any form of communication that is designed to promote, the goods, services or image of a gambling operator.

EU member states must make sure that the gambling firm, on whose behalf the commercial communication is made, can be clearly identified. And where appropriate, the commercial communications must carry warnings about the dangers of gambling addiction.

In addition to this, commercial communication must also not make dangerous statements that are not evidence based on a punter’s chance of winning. Nor should they portray gambling as socially attractive, or hint that gambling can be a resolution to problems. They also recommend stopping the suggestion that gambling can be an alternative to employment.

The report also states that vulnerable players must not be targeted by commercial communication – the report does not define, however, exactly what vulnerable players is defined as.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship, in the report, is defined as a contractual relationship between an operator and a sponsored party under which the operator provides financing or other support to the sponsored party, in return for commercial communications or other benefits.

In the report, the Commission calls for member states to make sure that, any sponsorship of operators is transparent and that the operator is identifiable as the sponsor.

In addition, sponsorship should not affect or influence minors. This means that gambling sponsorship of events that are aimed at minors as well as the use of promotional material in merchandising aimed at minors, must be banned.

Education and awareness

The Commission calls for member’s states to create, organise, and promote education and public awareness-raising campaigns in order to raise consumer awareness about the potential risks of online gambling.

Moreover, they call on member states to make the requirement that, gambling operators and national gambling regulatory authorities, must tell their employees about the dangers associated with online gambling. Employees who interact directly with the site’s punters should be adequately trained to ensure that they understand issues surrounding gambling addiction and are able to interact with the players on the site appropriately.

So, what happens next?

The Commission wants its member states to appoint a regulatory gambling body to ensure that measures can be enforced nationally, and be appropriately complied with by gambling operators.

They call for member states to inform the Commission about the measures taken 18 months after the Recommendation’s publication. The Commission is to then evaluate the measures taken by member states.