The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), European Casino Association (ECA) and the American Gaming Association (AGA) came together this week to share ideas about better tackling the unregulated market.
The Tuesday June 10 roundtable in Berlin, Germany, part of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA), was the result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three trade associations last October.
The CEOs of the BGC, ECA and AGA all spoke after opening remarks from Keith Bristow, the director general of the UK National Crime Agency and chair of the UK’s Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG).
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “It was a privilege and honour to address this Enforcement R roundtable and hear from my fellow CEOs who lead trade bodies in Europe and America.
“The growing, unsafe, illegal gambling black market poses a shared challenge to all our members, and their millions of customers.
“These illegal operators do not pay tax, do not support sport and don’t care about player protection measures. Instead, they target those vulnerable to harm, hurt the economy and threaten regulated businesses.
“These criminal organisations don’t recognise the rules, or international borders, so it was vital we joined today alongside a host of international regulators and representatives from the relevant law enforcement agencies, to share knowledge and understanding of the threat we all face.
“I hope this event will pave the way to further collaborative efforts against the unregulated illegal black market, as we continue working hard to ensure our sector stays crime free.”
As well as formalising their joint efforts to tackle the illegal gaming market, the three Memorandum of Understanding created a platform for the three trade associations to undertake research projects together.
“This roundtable marks an important step toward stronger global collaboration. Together, we’re sending a clear message: the legal gaming industry stands united with regulators and law enforcement in confronting the illegal market and protecting consumers worldwide,” said AGA president and CEO Bill Miller.
ECA chairman Erwin van Lambaart also spoke at the roundtable.
