European Gaming and Betting Association

The European Gaming and Betting Association- also known as the EGBA- was established in March 2007. This non profit organisation was created by seven of Europe’s top online gaming brands; Party Gaming, Unibet, Bwin Group, Bet at Home, Digibet, Expekt and Interwetten.

Monopolisation Prevention

The reason these massive names in the world of gaming came together was to create a uniform set of standards, in line with EU regulation, which all online casino operators across Europe can adhere to. Their main purpose was to combat any form of monopolisation over the online gambling industry by the governments of individual countries across the continent- especially those which have restricted access to casinos. One way that the EGBA have dealt with the issues facing the gambling industry in Europe is by establishing a strict set of rules and an ethical code of conduct ensuring that all of the sites in their association are fair, safe and reliable. The effectiveness of the association can be seen in the results of a recent study which found that gaming sites in the EGBA had much better control over disputes, security issues and players with gambling problems than those outside of it.

Promote Responsible Gambling

According to their website, the EGBA aims to promote responsible betting by preventing underage gaming and any other fraudulent or illegal behaviour. They operate a zero tolerance approach to any criminal gambling activity. EGBA rules benefit players just as much as casino operators. In order to be associated with the association, companies much consent to their strict code of conduct which includes, as well as the above rules, a promise of prompt and accurate payments, ethical marketing and advertising standards and a commitment to customer support and satisfaction. To ensure that all of the brands associated with them are upholding these high standards, the RGA regularly carry out thorough and in-depth investigations into each casino and check the fairness and randomness of games.

Fighting For Equal Opportunities

The EGBA regularly speaks out against European governments which prohibit their residents from enjoying online gambling. They argue that, as their standards are in keeping with EU legislation, anyone in the continent should be permitted to play on casinos which are registered with their association. Any casino company registered with the EGBA is protected by the fact that the association will fight on their behalf against any European state which seeks to block access to their casino site.

The arguments put forward by the EGBA don’t only benefit casino companies; they are also an advantage for casino players too. It has been proven that more international freedom in the world of real money gaming helps to foster an environment of fairness and responsibility. Having one Europe-wide gambling market (as the EGBA advocate for) will mean that casino players can enjoy a much wider choice of games, technologies and companies as well as some noticeably lower prices across many of their favourite sites. Customers are also more protected when they play at a site, which follows EU regulations pertaining to financial security, game fairness and client dispute resolution.