EU Commission Online Gambling Manifesto Too Little, Too Late

While the European Gaming and Betting Association has published a manifesto for a sustainable EU policy for online gambling, countries like Belgium and the Netherlands continue to engage in their own policy of quashing foreign competition, including that from neighboring European Union countries.

Secretary general of EGBA Sigrid Ligné said: "Our manifesto is designed to be a timely input to the commission as it prepares its EU action plan for online gambling. We are calling for the introduction of European rules to ensure proper protection for consumers while affording fair and transparent licensing conditions for EU operators."

Belgium, which is headquarters to the European Union, recently has gone as far as to blacklist foreign operators including the likes of big name players 888 Poker and Chili Poker.  They have also requested Internet Service Providers block such sites. 

The EGBA manifesto declares that an effective EU framework to regulate and ensure responsible online gambling should be based on five priority actions, according to InterGaming Online: 

1. The European Commission fulfilling its role as Guardian of the Treaty 2. Structured regulatory co-operation among national authorities. 3. An EU legal framework for online gambling. 4. Problem gambling prevention measures based on evidence. 5. EU action to fight sport fraud.

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com