A new report from the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) highlights how the European online gambling market has developed significantly in creating a competitive environment.
Comparing the situation with 15 years ago, when only seven countries, including the UK, introduced a multi-licensing model for online gambling, EGBA points to the radical changes that have occurred since then, highlighting their rapid pace and relevance.
The industry body’s report found that 27 of 31 European countries now use multi-licensing to regulate online gambling, covering all forms of gambling such as sports betting, casino, poker and bingo.
Of these 27 countries, 23 use a full multi-licensing model for all types of online gambling.
The remaining four countries use mixed multi-licensing, in which state-owned enterprises have a partial monopoly on online gambling. For example, Slovenia and Switzerland control online sports betting, while Austria and Poland have a monopoly on online casino games and poker but offer multi-licensing for other types of online gambling.
Finland, Iceland, Norway and Luxembourg do not use a multi-licensing model. The first three countries provide exclusive government rights, while Luxembourg has no regulated online gambling market at all.
Finland is currently undergoing legislative reform with the aim of moving to a multi-license market by 2026, as noted in the EGBA report.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, noted: “The momentum towards full multi-licensing for online gambling in Europe is undeniable. While a few exceptions still exist, governments are concluding that public policy objectives, particularly related to consumer protection and tax generation, are more effectively met through well-regulated online competition.
Finland’s current transition towards multi-licensing signals the impending end of the last online gambling monopoly in the EU, marking a significant regulatory milestone.
Similar deliberations regarding the future of the online monopoly are inevitable in Norway and Iceland. Furthermore, the handful of countries with either partial monopolies or product prohibitions should strive for greater consistency and effectiveness in their policies by phasing these out.
With over 15 years of regulatory experience in Europe, it’s clear that full multi-licensing offers the best pathway to enhance consumer protection, increase tax revenues, and ensure stronger regulatory control. The time has come for the last remaining European countries to embrace this optimal form of online regulation.”
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