PokerStrategy.com's Draft Regarding EU Green Paper on Online Gambling
The European Union recently reached out to knowledgeable parties that could provide them with information on online gambling. PokerStrategy.com drafted a response to the EU's questions and we would like your feedback on it.
With so many disturbances in the online gambling world lately, the European Union decided to reach out to industry experts via a public consultation. Their primary goal is to learn about offers from unauthorised international sites to residents of the EU, while at the same time discovering what they can do to ensure maximum safety for EU players.
PokerStrategy.com is the world's largest poker community, and we felt it appropriate for us to draft a response to it. However, before we send it over to the EU on Sunday, we would like to hear your feedback on it and eventually include your suggestions.
Topics within the draft
We realize not all of you are interested in looking through the full paper yourself, so instead here are the major topics addressed within our draft and a brief description of what we included for each.
• Online Gambling in the EU: Current Situation - In this section we point to numerous studies on non-EU licensed gambling operators, and speak of the significant differences between a disreputable operator and one that maintains a license that is simply located outside of the EU. We think it is hugely important for the EU to make this distinction and not group all non-EU sites into a singular umbrella category.
• Definition and Organisation of Online Gambling Services - This section addresses several legal issues with defining different types of gambling. We specifically consider Gibraltar legislation, as that is where we are located. The difficulties that arise due to the existence of several separately operating gambling authorities in the EU are also discussed.
• Related Services Performed And/Or Used by Online Gambling Services Providers - Communications with the public via advertising and regulations dealing with online payment services are considered.
• Public Interest Objectives - This section is the bulk of the response. We speak of different types of consumer protections, including but not limited to dealing with gambling addiction, underage gambling, fraud prevention, anti money-laundering techniques, and more. These issues are especially important to us in representing the entire PokerStrategy.com community.
• Financing of Benevolent and Public Interest Activities as well as Events on Which Online Sports Betting Relies - Considering we focus on poker and haven't taken a significant interest in sports betting, much of this section has been left out.
• Enforcement and Related Matters - This closing section addresses the regulatory authority in Gibraltar, cooperation between administrators, and technical issues including payment blocking and ISP liability.
Your feedback is appreciated
Feedback on the paper is more than welcome, as one big reason for our paper is our wish to give the poker player community a voice. Although, the deadline for submission being this Sunday, we might not able to incorporate all feedback we get from you.
Still, discussing the legal state of online poker is important - even outside of any official consultation by the EU. The poker community needs to use their voice and help bring a player-friendly, liberal touch to any legislation that might regulate online poker. Always remember: any regulation can be positive or negative for the player - and every poker player has both a voice and a vote!
