“Online gambling must be accompanied with strong means of consumer protection”, underlined Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, the EPP Group Spokeswoman on online gambling in the internal market, which was voted today in the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

“Gambling is an economic activity of a special nature, where restrictions are needed for consumer protection, fraud prevention, the fight against money laundering and the preservation of public order and public health”, said Pietikäinen.

“This can be achieved by respecting the principle of subsidiarity where Member States have the right to determine how the offer of online gambling services is organised and regulated. Simultaneously, common principles of consumer protection have to be improved.”

“Reliable electronic identification is needed to ensure a high level of protection for players, particularly minors. Together with restricting gaming accounts to one per person, it is also an important means to fight against money laundering.”

"Online gambling may involve a greater risk of addiction than traditional offline gambling. Therefore any customer self-excluding or surpassing their gambling limits from one gambling operator should have the option to be automatically self-excluded from all other licensed gambling operators.”

“It should also be taken into account that the fight against match fixing requires more effective cooperation between public authorities, law enforcement agencies, the sport industry, gambling operators and gambling regulators.”

For more information:

Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, tel.: +32-2-284-5264

Pete Pakarinen, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, tel.: +32-470-830213