A major European gambling trade group just put out their manifesto, or public declaration of goals, for the next few years. The European Casino Association, or ECA, says they want to work with European Union lawmakers to get rid of illegal gambling and make the industry better for customers and businesses.
The manifesto comes as illegal gambling across Europe pulls in a jaw-dropping €42 billion yearly. Most of this is from online gambling sites that don’t follow regulations. These fly-by-night sites cost governments €10 billion in lost tax money every year.
The ECA says enough is enough. They laid out a manifesto, or public pledge, to:
ECA Chair Erwin van Lambaart said, “We’re committed to working with the EU to clean up the industry. Illegal sites hurt customers and take money away from regulated businesses and governments.”
In addition to pushing officials to enforce rules, the ECA wants better regulations to ban illegal gambling ads online and stronger anti-money laundering regulations. This will prevent shady sites from tricking customers.
While addressing issues, the ECA does want people to know legal casinos employ thousands of workers across Europe. They also contribute lots of tax money for public services.
To promote responsibility, the ECA recently teamed up with major casino tech suppliers Aristocrat, IGT, Light & Wonder and Novomatic. Together, they hope to shape industry standards around safety and security.