The European Parliament has just voted for more European coordination and common standards in the field of online gambling in a resolution approved today in Strasbourg. As for the next step, it will be up to the European Commission to present a corresponding legislative proposal. The online gambling sector is one of the few remaining tradable services not to be regulated at EU level.

Jürgen CREUTZMANN (FDP, Germany), who is the author of Parliament's report on Online Gambling, admonished the EU to act quickly: "A member state can't solve such problems on its own. For a successful prevention of addiction and crime prevention member states have to act in concert. Unfortunately, a number of member states declined a European initiative on that subject, because they see their gambling monopolies at risk. With this clear backing the Parliament sends a strong signal to the Commission and the Member states. It is promising that Commissioner Barnier has already announced before the vote an action plan setting EU-wide minimum standards for consumer protection by mid-2012."

"Common quality standards for national licensing models would represent an important step towards more transparency, fair competition and legal certainty. Furthermore, the bureaucratic hurdles for cross-border gambling services in the common market could be lowered. Only if the framework for legal services is right, will we have a chance to control the market", added Creutzmann.

Notes to the editor
In view of the foreseen regulation, the Commission carried out from March to July 2011 a public consultation on the base of a Green paper, which is currently being evaluated.

The press conference with Mr. Creutzmann today at 16.30 h in the EP in Strasbourg can be watched in real-time online via
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/frd/live/live-program?language=en