EU shifting stance on online gambling

[The Buzz]

The European Parliament has voted to adopt a new report that urges a stronger stance on harmonizing online gambling law across the European Union. Included in this report are a common set of rules for consumer protection in the realm of online gambling.

From CardPlayer:

This is a definite shift away from the previous stance of supporting the status quo and allowing online gambling law to be decided at national level and includes a move towards a framework directive, formal cooperation between national regulators and more consistent use of infringement procedures by the European commission.

Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA welcomed the report saying, “This vote constitutes a very welcome shift in the position of the European Parliament. Time is of the essence given that it is precisely now that Member States are pushing ahead and reregulating their national online gambling markets.

“Today the Commission has received political support to initiate EU actions. But any EU level action can take years to be adopted and this cannot be a pretext for inaction against Member States that infringe EU law. As the guardian of the Treaties, the Commission must act to curb further fragmentation of the Internal Market by consistently declaring protectionist national regimes to be incompatible with EU law.”

[Anthony]

It is good that the EU recognizes the need for some standardization. It's a shame we will all have to wait years for action.

[ocreditor]

Hopefully it really will happen.

[Robban76]

What do you think will happen after this? Will it be a more open market or more regulations. The EU-parliament are very slow with making decisions and its urgent if the memberstates are making upnew laws to get some taxmoney from the operators. As in Denmark 2012.

[BHL]

It is good that the EU recognizes the need for some standardization. It's a shame we will all have to wait years for action.

lol jup if only...
It's a welcome change though.. heard some disturbing news about belgium for instance, plans regarding allowing only a couple of casinos to have Belgian players, and most of them were rogue(ish)

[celena]

I hope this will be a European harmonization, because if it concerns each state separately, it will be a big mess for us! The markets will become closed!

[ocreditor]

If the governments want more tax revenue, it would make sense they would hasten the process. Why then does it take so long? Either impotence rules or the subject is too "hot" to handle.
While everybody else's interest is to at least move the industry out of the grey zone.