The Remote Gambling Association has developed a set of technical guidelines intended to support regulators in designing efficient and effective technical standards.

It is hoped that the guidelines will contribute to a higher degree of consistency in the approach taken by various regulators to these issues. By producing them and highlighting what it believes to be regulatory best practice based on the extensive first-hand experience of its members, the RGA is hopeful that it will play a constructive part in the ongoing discussions about these issues that are being held both nationally and internationally.

In doing so it acknowledges the regulatory objectives of licensing jurisdictions and the work that has already been undertaken in this area by like-minded regulators through forums such as the International Association of Gaming Regulators and by standardisation bodies such as the European Committee for Standardisation.

The guidelines also create new opportunities to provide efficient consumer protection and combat crime. Besides the registration of all transactions which provides a complete digital audit trail, remote gambling is characterised by increased consumer transparency and the latest e-verification technologies are strategic enablers for the exclusion of under-aged people and the fight against fraud.

Clive Hawkswood, CEO of the RGA, said: “The RGA is committed to the encouragement of high standards of probity and integrity, both for the benefit of its members and the public generally. Ensuring that technical standards are consistent, proportionate, practical and effective is central to that. If that can be achieved there would be obvious benefits for the industry, but we would suggest that this must also be in the best interests of regulators, governments and consumers.”

Hawkswood added: “For the avoidance of any doubt, I would like to make very clear that this has nothing to do with self regulation. As an industry we are part of a well-regulated sector where it is becoming commonplace for companies to be licensed in multiple jurisdictions. As those countries are essentially licensing the same products and businesses, logic dictates that in most cases they should adopt similar regulatory measures, such as those set out in our guidelines. We look forward to discussing their application with established regulators and those jurisdictions considering the regulation of remote gambling.”