"This showcase clearly demonstrates that the consumer has been, is and will continue to be at the very centre of our business. Responsible Gambling for us is the commitment to promoting responsible behaviour amongst our customers, industry and employees" says Annette Kok, President of EUROMAT
Wednesday, 4 November 2009 - The European Gaming and Amusement Federation (EUROMAT) launched today its publication entitled "Responsible Gambling: a Statement of Principles and a Showcase of Best Practice from the European Gaming and Amusement Industry" in the European Parliament in an event co-hosted by two very well known policy figures in the European debate about gambling policy, MEP Christel Schaldemose of Denmark and MEP Toine Manders of the Netherlands, respectively Rapporteur and Shadow Rapporteur of the first European Parliament's own-initiative report on gambling.
MEP Christel Schaldemose (S&D, Denmark) said "I believe that in the wider debate of expanding consumer protection in Europe and the empowerment of European consumers, a healthy debate on consumer protection in gambling is what Europe needs. As an elected member of the European Parliament sitting in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee I welcome initiatives such as EUROMAT's and will continue to work to ensure that all consumers of any services, including gambling and entertainment services, receive the best quality at the highest level of consumer protection".
The publication was presented to EU policymakers of most EU institutions and representatives of many Member State governments. The publication identifies the key principles of Corporate Social Responsibility in gambling and highlights best practice in different Member States aimed at promoting responsible gambling behavior in Europe.
EUROMAT recognizes the importance of working to promote responsible gambling at the level closer to the people, wholeheartedly defends the principle of subsidiarity when it comes to gambling regulation, but also encourages a healthy European debate on responsible gambling and calls on the EU to give consumer protection in gambling more attention by for instance establishing a Responsible Gambling Forum.
"This publication shows that the private gaming industry has been able to integrate responsible gambling initiatives into its business model. Today we prove that when properly regulated the gambling industry can work in synergy with governments to ensure that consumers are provided with a great gaming experience with the appropriate controls" said Toine Manders (ALDE, The Netherlands).
In her concluding remarks, EUROMAT President said: "EUROMAT continues to be one of the chief advocates of responsible gambling and it is our hope that this publication will promote greater focus at EU and EU Member State level to facilitate a real commitment to responsible gambling by all stakeholders."
ENDS
* * * * *
Note to Editors:
EUROMAT is the European Gaming and Amusement Federation, established in 1979, represents manufacturers, distributors and operators of gaming machines outside casinos of 20 European countries with a combined industry turnover of 17.3 billion Euro, directly employing about 350,000 people, and accounting for 20% of the overall gambling sector. EUROMAT's membership includes national gaming associations from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France (observer), Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.
The Responsible Gambling publication can be downloaded directly from the EUROMAT homepage www.euromat.org
For further information please contact:
EUROMAT Secretariat
Marco Di Benedetto
+ 32 (0)2 626 1993
secretariat@euromat.org
|
