Brussels, 23 January 2019 - Leading MEP Cristian-Silviu Bușoi (EPP, Romania), with the support of the Polish-Romanian Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber), organised and led a European Parliament gathering of Eastern European gambling regulators (Poland, Czech Republic and Romania) and various external stakeholders to discuss the nature of existing regulatory frameworks in Eastern Europe and their associated challenges. Dr Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, European Gaming & Betting Association and Mr Richard Leather, Chief Content Officer at Gambling Compliance and Dr. Cristian Andrei, reputable psychiatrist and expert of the Romanian Responsible Gambling Association, were part of panel of experts.

 

More specifically, the panel of experts and the stakeholders in the audience discussed the need for non-discriminatory and responsible market openings, balanced and adequate taxation systems, clear gambling advertisement and responsible gambling rules and the potential necessity for the European Commission to adopt a more pro-active role in gambling regulation across the EU.

 

As a supporting entity of the event, The Chamber, in a statement read by MEP Bușoi, said: “A controlled, non-discriminatory and responsible opening of the gambling market is a better solution than the imposing of artificial restrictions, including here also the unsustainable taxation or over regulation.” MEP Busoi himself, said: “I express my conviction that it is a first step to a closer cooperation among the CEE countries and a first exchange of best practices that will certainly help identifying the most suitable legal and tax framework for this sector. In Romania, we have a regulatory model with positive proven effects, but the laws still need to be improved especially with respect to the protection of the vulnerable players”.

 

Having regard of the fruitful discussions MEP Bușoi will look to repeat the event on a yearly basis in order to continue providing the EU and its Brussels based stakeholders an accessible platform of Eastern European gambling experts to further exchange with on all regulatory matters and challenges encountered, in order to constantly enhance player protection and encourage responsible gambling as part of the planned overhaul of gambling legislation in the EU.