Legislation

Belgium – Europe’s leading online gambling operators step up safer gambling efforts

In a first-ever annual Sustainability Report by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), the CEOs of its member companies, Europe’s leading online gambling operators, commit to taking the lead in fostering a stronger culture of safer gambling across Europe’s online gambling sector. In the report, the CEOs commitment is reinforced by data from their companies which confirms that EGBA members are significantly stepping up their safer gambling efforts towards their customers, including through the greater deployment of safer gambling tools and increased communications to promote safer gambling.

EGBA’s Sustainability Report 2020/21 outlines the joint efforts and progress made by its member companies in 2020 to promote safer gambling, protect their players and to contribute positively to society in Europe.[1] The yearly report aims to support accountability, transparency and reinforce a strong culture of safer gambling in Europe’s online gambling sector. Included in this year’s report are data points related to customer complaints, the use of safer gambling tools, the promotion of safer gambling, contributions to European sport and research, education and training, and employment, along with a section dedicated to the safer gambling and sustainability initiatives of EGBA members.

Around 75 per cent of customers had at least one safer gambling tool activated, either mandatorily or voluntarily, on their online betting accounts – an increase from 61 per cent of customers in 2019 with 2.8m personalised communications sent to customers about their individual gambling behaviour with the aim of promoting safer gambling, a 133 per cent increase compared to 1.2m personalised communications in 2019.

The report also showed that 14.2m generic communications were sent to customers to promote safer gambling with €408m voluntary contributions to European sport through sponsorships and sports streaming rights payments – a 20 per cent increase compared to 2019.

Maarten Haijer, Secretary General, EGBA, said: “EGBA and its members are committed to lead from the front on safer gambling and our yearly sustainability report is part of our commitment to be accountable and transparent about our activities, track our progress and support our overall efforts to put safer gambling at the heart of what we do. The personal commitment of the CEOs to achieve these objectives is vital and welcomed. It is very encouraging to see that our members are already putting their commitment into action through the greater deployment of safer gambling tools and by communicating more than ever before to their customers about safer gambling, and in an increasingly personalised and targeted way.”