In Strasbourg this week Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been debating a report on the ‘integrity of online gambling’. The EU Internal Market Committee has called for national governments to regulate online gambling but some MEPs thought that European rules should apply. The report by Danish Socialist Christel Schaldemose before Parliament wants governments to agree on issues such as gambling addiction; misuse of personal data or credit cards; match-fixing and illegal betting behaviour; age limits; and measures to protect children and addicts as well as a ban on credit.

MEPs endorsed the report that effectively upholds the existing right of member states to control gambling. The vote in favour of the report was a landslide, with 544 votes for, 36 against and 66 abstentions. UK MEP Malcolm Harbour described the result as a missed opportunity and said that some member states had their ‘heads in the sand’ and failed to recognise the realities of a dynamic gambling market. He added that effective regulation of the online industry in the UK proved that a high level of consumer protection and integrity in online gambling could be achieved.

Schaldemose said action must be taken to regulate the €4 billion industry as over 3 million Europeans bet online. The Internal Market Committee Chair Arlene McCarthy commented that she supported tough action against all forms of match fixing and sport betting fraud as fans expect to see honest games. However, she issued a warning to national governments that national legislation must not be used to protect state-owned betting companies. (E-03.12.09)

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