28th November 2006: "The Future of Gaming and Amusement in Europe" - A comprehensive publication from EUROMAT was launched today in the European Parliament in Brussels. In an increasingly complex EU legislative environment for gambling, this publication aims to inform, educate and aid policymakers in their ongoing work on policy development.
Gaming and Amusement is a lucrative and growing industry that employs over 20,000 people in the EU with turnover in excess of €20 billion. This book gives a broad yet detailed portrait of the gaming and amusement sector, covering regulation, growth prospects and social impact of an often misunderstood industry.
In his opening remarks, EUROMAT President, Mr. Eduardo Antoja remarked "this book is intended to provide the reader with food for thought, not solutions. Its main purpose is to assist policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, industry leaders as well as gaming enthusiasts to better understand the gaming and amusement sector."
Launched by MEP Jacques Toubon (EPP-ED, France) today, Mr. Toubon said "The initiative taken by EUROMAT to encourage reflection and dialogue on the future of gaming is a welcome one and will undoubtedly contribute to the debate at EU level with respect to the gambling sector as a whole." He continued, "The value of this book is that it allows the reader to look at the gaming and amusement sector from different perspectives and angles - the role of the EU and others regulating it, the social impact on gambling, and the economics and drivers of the market - all with an eye to the future."
The publication examines the dynamic between regional, national and European legislators. It addresses key issues from a number of industry experts, all in essay format.
The five essays contained in "The Future of Gaming and Amusement in Europe" cover a broad spectrum of topics giving the reader an informed overview of the current gaming regulatory situation. Essays include a discussion on whether the EU should potentially lead the way in terms of regulating the gaming sector; another discusses the possible liberalisation of the market. The book contains an in-depth analysis of the tension between the benefits and occasional harmful consequences of gambling activities. There is a review of past, present and future regulation of the gaming industry while one author discusses the need for the regulator to move with the times as well as an essay detailing the role of the trade press and trade fairs and how they drive the EU gaming and amusement industry.
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Notes to the editor:
EUROMAT is The European Gaming and Amusement Federation
Contributors to "The Future of Gaming and Amusement in Europe"
include:
- Leslie MacLeod-Miller - a UK-based adviser on gaming issues with Michael Winkelmüller, of Redeker Sellner Dahs & Widmaier law firm
- Hans-Günter Vieweg, of the Institute of Economic Research in Munich
- Gerhard Bühringer, Professor for Addiction Research at the Technische Universität in Dresden
- Amadeu Farré, a former regulator of the sector in Spain
- Martin Dempsey - editor of Coin-Op news AmusEmail and Coin-Op News Online and Stephanie Norbury, editor EuroSlot
For further information contact:
EUROMAT Secretariat
Marco Di Benedetto
+ 32 (0)2 626 1993
secretariat@euromat.org
The book will be made available on the EUROMAT website http://www.euromat.org/
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