Gambling laws are quite strict in European countries and must be followed to the fullest. Each country has laws that are common across the board. But all the countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) have different rules and regulations. Any international gambling company that wants to set up operations in any country needs to get the necessary licenses.
Be it online gambling sites or land-based ones, each has to seek out the relevant authorities for every country they target. There are diverse forms of gambling offered to Europeans including sports betting, casino games, gaming machines, and bingo. Many international platforms create a diverse website that provides players with all. Depending on the country, they may be forced to acquire a license for each or get one that covers all.
The legal age for gambling within the European Union is 18 years. Every player that registers on an online platform needs verification in many parts of the region. There are some exceptions where National lotteries permit 16 year olds to take part. Identification is crucial. Countries like Sweden have a regulation mandating all online casinos to conduct thorough verification of punters.
Read more on casino & gambling regulation in the UK, Netherlands, France and Austria.
Read also: Overview of Online Gambling Licensing and Regulation in France.
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Mission
The main purpose of the site is to provide crucial information for individuals and online casinos seeking to start operations in Europe. They must know and follow all the different rules and regulations in regard to licensing, advertising, and general operation. Here they learn all that is required of them in the different jurisdictions.
Every country is different so the first task is pointing out which ones to deal with. All European countries have gambling authorities. The UK Gambling Commission is one, Swedish Gambling Authority, and the Danish Gambling Authority are others to note.
Read also: Overview of Online Gambling Licensing and Regulation in Austria.
Gambling Advertising
The different countries within the European Union have strict rules and regulations when it comes to advertising within their jurisdictions (i.e. Denmark). There has been a lot of discontent from consumers about gambling advertising forcing authorities to put in place stricter measures.
Some countries don’t permit gambling advertising at all within their borders. Italy was one of the first to take such a measure. All such adverts in the UK must be powered by the UK Gambling Commission. Operators who go against these rules are heavily fined and might get licenses revoked.
Other countries are working on changing legislation that when passed will limit adverts about gambling. Not all have taken such tough measures but with increasing change, they’re bound to follow suit.
Adverts are divided into those that are allowed, partially restricted, and restricted. Each operator needs to understand this lest they find themselves on the wrong end of the law. Still, rules governing the topic differ from country to country. What is restricted in one might be partially restricted in another.
Many jurisdictions have some common regulations when it comes to gambling advertising. No country permits advertising to minors. Advertising gambling as a way to solve one’s financial problems is also not permitted. Warning messages about the addictiveness of gambling is a requirement for many countries within the EU.
Read also: Online Casino Regulation in the United Kingdom.
Safer Gambling Environment
There are rising safety concerns especially when it comes to online gambling in Europe. An increase in international online casinos that operate within the region raises concerns. Calls for tougher measures to protect the consumers are increasing daily as the industry booms.
The European parliament has increased calls to strengthen the digital economy within the EU. With it comes more concerns about safety and security in online gambling that need immediate attention. There are wide existing gaps that worry many in terms of consumer protection. The only way to close them is by increasing rules that govern the gambling industry in general.
The industry is mainly regulated by individual jurisdictions that have enacted national policies on the matter. The truth is they are only effective within those countries that pass them as law. With the internet having no borders, they can prove ineffective. The result is many illegal online gambling companies like casinos taking advantage of consumers. They know the loopholes and exploit them to the maximum.
A need for broader European Union rules has been identified by the EU parliament in a bid to create better and broader consumer protection measures. The EU needs to work with each member nation and come up with better regulations for online gambling. Stronger rules are effective and will create a safer environment for all consumers.
Read also: Gambling Regulation and Licensing in the Netherlands: Facts & Figures.