Operator News
Monaco – European casinos engage at annual ECA forum in Monaco
By Phil - 25 July 2018
Promoting equal career opportunities and tackling money laundering were the key issues at the annual industry forum organised by the European Casino Association (ECA) and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer at the Casino de Monte-Carlo and Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
Chosen as focus areas for 2018 were gender diversity, the newest trends in anti-money laundering and responsible gambling. For these discussions, members and partners of the ECA came together with key experts in their field from within and outside the industry in dedicated seminars.
The first seminar discussed the development of diverse workplaces, starting with the promotion of diverse career and leadership opportunities in the industry. The discussions showed that diversity leadership supported by best-practices at ECA level can make a positive contribution to increasing the attractiveness of the sector. Clearly recognised in this regard were the positive effects of active diversity management, which creates improved employee feedback and a positive perception by customers and local communities that land-based casinos are very much an integral part of.
The second panel discussion covered the latest trends in anti-money laundering and included a keynote speech from a Europol specialist on the newest trends and developments identified by the law enforcement community. Panellists discussed measures aimed at maintaining the low-risk status of the licensed land-based casino industry in line with anti-money laundering regulations, as well highlighting the effective measures taken by the industry in this area. Clear issues that surfaced in the discussions were potential risks in the sphere of unlicensed online gambling and the connections with the anonymity of unlicensed cryptocurrencies that can cause substantial issues for law enforcement authorities. Panellists reiterated the need for stronger measures to tackle unlicensed online gambling, such as those that the ECA calls for in its position papers and reports.
On the occasion of the General Assembly, Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken GmbH & Co. KG was officially awarded the ECA Responsible Gambling certificate after having been successfully audited under the 2018 Responsible Gambling framework. The framework demonstrates the company’s compliance with highest Responsible Gambling standards, including employee training, consumer information and stakeholder engagement.
ECA Chairman, Per Jaldung summarised the two-day event: “Monaco is the beating heart of our industry and shows the positive impact of our industry for economies and even entire countries. There is no better location to discuss the key issues that our industry is active on at European level, from promoting diversity to tackling the newest trends in anti-money laundering and fostering responsible gambling initiatives. Overall, the annual forum showed itself as the premier location for the land-based casino industry to come together to learn, network and engage with each other.”
Pascal Camia, Executive Vice President of the Gaming Operation of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer commented: “Just one year after joining the ECA, we were proud to welcome the elite of Europe’s land-based casino industry to Monaco for the annual industry forum. This event was also a great opportunity to hold meetings between the official representatives of the Principality and the ECA board to address the key issues related to the development of the casino industry. The richness and scope of Monaco and the Société des Bains de Mer as a destination for the European casino industry were honoured and very much enjoyed by the participants. Our company is continually seeking to innovate and work with the ECA on key issues for Europe, such as the fight against money laundering, gender diversity and the exchange of best practices.”
