European Lotteries unites with WoTA and ECA to target illegal gambling

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The European Lotteries (EL), World Tote Association (WoTA) and European Casinos Association (ECA) have joined forces to fight illegal gambling in Europe.

All three bodies have welcomed the European Commission’s Digital Services Act, which itintends to use to modernise the rules applicable to the online gambling environment.

The Act aims to introduce a notice-and-action mechanism that will enable all years to notify online authorities about possible illegal online content or activities, helping said authorities to react quickly and be more transparent in their actions.

EL is the umbrella organisation of all lotteries operating in European Union member states, the ECA represents all land-based and fully licensed European casinos and WoTA brings together tote operators from around the globe to represent the horse racing industry

Over 150 European operators in the gambling and lottery sector employing over 1 million and contributing 35 billion euros in taxes and charitable donations are represented by the Alliance

The new Alliance is hopeful that the Act will be an important tool in the fight against illegal online gambling, potining to how illegal practices are detrimental for customers and state budgets as regulations are not followed, taxes are avoided and criminal groups make financial gains.

In an open letter signed by 1st Vice-President of the EL Stéphane Pallez, ECA Chairman Per Jaldung and WoTA Vice Chairman Hans Lord Skarploth, the trio identified illegal gambling as a ‘threat to the safety of EU citizens’.

In addition the three organisations stated that the Alliance “looks forward to the enforcement and implementation of these measures by the involved stakeholders to protect the interests of all EU citizens.”