EGBA's commitment to safe and responsible gambling
The main gambling and betting associations in Europe have joined the initiative of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) that renews its commitment to safe gambling and responsible advertising during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the second wave of the coronavirus hitting most European countries, new confinement measures and restrictions may result in an increase in online gambling, with the well-known risk of compulsive gambling and addiction.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has published a memorandum reaffirming its commitment to safe gambling and responsible advertising during the COVID-19 pandemic. ©PhotoMix-Company/Pixabay
As autumn progresses in the northern hemisphere and we approach winter the second wave of coronavirus infections there is no one to stop her anymore. All European countries without exception are implementing measures to restrict infections and avoid hospital collapse . New confinements of the population are coming.
Behaviors related to compulsive gambling and gambling addiction can be intensified with confinement and teleworking, once access to online gambling and sports betting , now that competitions have resumed without public attendance , are a way to overcome the drawbacks of prolonged isolation.
The positioning of the industry in the face of the pandemic
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has just published a memorandum in which, together with the main associations of gambling and betting operators in Europe, it reaffirms its commitment to a safe gaming and responsible advertising ; aware also that European governments are taking concrete measures with which it is sought to protect the population from the dangers of compulsive gambling and gambling addiction .
This is about assuring the public that gambling and sports betting companies are one hundred percent committed to the promoting online safety and the customer protection .
The Secretary General of the EGBA, Maarten Haijer, emphasized the objectives of the series of recommendations that have been made public.
“The reintroduction of coronavirus restrictions poses important challenges to European society. This guide is intended to help citizens and provides an opportunity for gambling companies to demonstrate their willingness to take responsibility in these difficult times. These are simple but essential measures that all gambling companies should take to protect their customers, step up their social responsibility efforts and ensure that advertising is carried out ethically and responsibly. We urge all online operators to adhere to them.” – Maarten Haijer , Secretary General, EGBA, in statements made public in the memorandum
The recommendations of the EGBA
In the recommendations of the EGBA related to the advertising of online operators the following warnings are included:
- Advertising should not referencing the coronavirus , to statements related to public health, and/or to any other developments related to the coronavirus.
- Advertising should not present the game as a solution to boredom or to social, personal or financial problems.
- Advertising and web pages should have clear and visible information about age restrictions, with support lines for problem gambling and access to self-exclusion records as far as possible.
- Websites must have firm measures in place for the identity verification as well as its application, to verify the identity of new customers and prevent access to minors.
- The web pages must contain clearly indicated safe gaming tools: as deposit limits , maximum times and self-exclusion tools, which customers can make use of to monitor your gaming activity .
- Clients are closely monitored in order to detecting problematic behaviors companies have to intensify direct interventions in the game when it is convenient.
- New clients must be duly informed at the time of their registration of the safe game tools .
The guidelines that the EGBA is now making public and that are based on the Pan-European Responsible Advertising Code , they echo the recommendations of the European Commission about it in one July 2014 directive concerning the protection of consumers and users of online gambling services.
