GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 13 - June 2010

into a less enjoyable and profitable corner. The current trend certainly suggests that the next few years will see more states regulating their markets. We’re hopeful that they’ll realize that the responsibility is upon them to do so in a manner that ensures their citizens are the real beneficiaries. In this respect, the recent words of the newly appointed Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, encouraged us. Barnier sternly told those member states seeking to prevent private operators entering their domain that the Commission would continue reviewing cases between states and private operators on their individual merits.This intimated tous thathewould takeatoughstanceonthoseseekingtouse the same flawedexcuses in their attempts tomaintain theirmonopolies. Barnier’s Belgian colleague Etienne Marique, the president of the country’s gaming commission, further impressed us with his remarks that his country will be using their upcoming time in the EU Presidency to seek “legal clarity” with regards to the online gambling market, and while we’re encouraged by the apparent realization in Brussels that change is necessary, we await concrete, positivedevelopmentswithbatedbreath. right2bethasalwayscampaignedfortheEU principles of freedomof trade and services tobe applied to the betting industry in the samemanner that theyareapplied tomany others. We want a “one-license fits all” system in place, whereby any EU operator that has a license inone country shouldbe granted access to any market within the EU.This inturnwillallowconsumerstobet withwhomever theychoose. As touched on above, member states have been allowed to use baseless arguments concerning crime prevention and consumer protection for too long, and we’d like to see the concrete proof provided by independent reports that refute these claims to be given greater credenceand consideration. It’s in the interest of monopoly-backers to fuel the idea that an open gambling market is bad for the consumer and society.We’re sure that if the rightmoves are made to expose the fallacy of these claims, the chances will greatly increase that European citizens will be granted access to the plethora of reputable operators available to them. We believe that the next five years will see the opening up of the EU’s online gambling market to a degree, but as far aswe’re concerned itwill in all likelihood not go far enough. Liberalization ismost certainly in the cards, although exactly how such liberalization is defined over the next few years will be critical. You may rest assured that we’ll be doing all we can to bring about the type of change thatwill let all European consumers reap the benefits that only genuine market freedom canbring. Ari is Right2bet’s campaignmanager tasked primarily with building and maintaining relationships with indi- viduals andorganizationswho share the campaign’sdesire to seeall Euro- peansbenefiting froma free,safeand secureEuropeangamblingmarket. 28