The EGBA warned that a proposed EU-wide online gambling levy could benefit unlicensed operators and reduce Member State tax income. The European Parliament’s Budget Committee included the idea in its opinion on the 2028–2034 budget, but the EGBA said the committee vote was not a formal proposal or decision.
The EGBA warns a proposed EU levy could benefit unlicensed operators and reduce Member State tax income.
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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) filed a complaint with the Bank of Lithuania against payment provider Walletto, alleging that it processed payments linked to illegal online gambling operators serving European consumers. EGBA said its investigation identified transactions that suggested Walletto services had handled deposits on several unauthorised platforms. The association called for coordinated action by gambling and financial regulators, payment providers and card networks.
The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) published a European standard containing nine indicators of potential gambling-related harm, available through national standards bodies since 31 May. The standard covers indicators including changes in stakes, deposits and withdrawals, session length, longer-term net losses and adjustments to safer-gambling tools; the EGBA said members would further align their processes with it.
The European Gaming and Betting Association said it supports EN 18144, a voluntary European standard for identifying potentially harmful gambling behaviour. The standard sets out nine behavioural indicators, and EGBA said its members are committed to aligning player-protection systems across their European operations, subject to national law.
The European Gaming and Betting Association said a possible EU online gambling tax in the 2028–2034 budget framework could benefit illegal operators. The European Parliament's Budget Committee vote referred to considering the idea, not adopting a tax; a final decision on new EU own resources would require unanimous approval by the 27 member states. Parliament was expected to vote on the opinion in late April.
The World Gaming and Betting Alliance has selected former European Gaming and Betting Association secretary general Maarten Haijer to lead the new global gambling body as director general. The organisation is due to hold its formal launch in Geneva in November, alongside publication of its first report; Bet365, Entain, Flutter Entertainment and FDJ United are listed as members.