Christofers tal på Responsible Gaming Day
I am very pleased to welcome you to the European Parliament for the second Responsible Gaming Day. Last year was a great success – and it is with great satisfaction that I see that this yeas edition is even bigger. That is great- because we have some serious issues to address here today and I am very happy to have been asked to comment on the theme, Internet: Blessing Or Curse In Terms Of Integrity?
First of all- what do we mean by integrity? I would first and for most say that by the question of Internet as a blessing or a curse in terms of integrity, I do not mean the mere existence of offering gambling services cross-boarder gambling services on the internet which the European Court agrees with me on. By threat to integrity I would like to highlight issues like how we can protect ourselves or others against under age gambling, match fixing and gambling addiction.
Secondly – let us all agree that Internet is here to stay – (and not like the Swedish communication minister who ones said that the internet is just a fad) and we see that Internet is playing a greater and greater role in all different business areas. Even though the online gambling only accounts for 5 percent of the market today I think we can safely assume that with the fast technology development that has and is still taking place the importance of the internet market will grow.
Thirdly – we should all remind ourselves that one of the greater scandals with regards match fixing and therefore the integrity of both people and sport was done live and not online by a Croatian match-fixing ring helped by the German referee Hoyzer. to get discussed was the German case Hoyzer.
The question of integrity and the internet are one of the most debated issues here in the European Parliament. Because at the same time as the internet gives us an immense possibility to communicate and create new business models it is at the same time threatening old business models and politicians possibilities to. And the opposition against the internet is normally not against the internet itself but at the moment. Because at the same time as the internet gives us the opportunity to act anonymously it has also the potential to survey peoples actions to the smallest detail.
So if we all agree that the internet is here to stay and that we all care about the integrity of the gamblers – what could we do. I am happy to say that the EU-commission has decided to include gambling in the consumers’ rights directive which means that if the EP and the Council agrees in this issue consumers gambling on the internet will be protected as any other consumer buying or using a service on the internet. Instead of trying to ban the internet or pretend that it is not there we should all work together to make the internet more open and by that more safe.
But there is more that can be done – for example the EU-Commission is currently reviewing its Public Sector Information directive – and with a directive that gives company’s access to public information the security on the internet could increase even more – with regards to preventing under age gambles for example. And with regards to this I would like to applause all gambling companies – that in a study showed that they were equally or better fulfilling standards to protect consumers.
It might be because I am so much younger than most MEP: s but I would like us here today to focus on the possibilities that Internet gives us in terms of offering true cross-border services and by that creating great value for consumers. Unfortunately this frightens many decision makers and business leaders – but that is why our fight is very important. Because if we do not take this fight with regards to sports-betting where the cross-border dimension is very evident. For many sport supporters does not only cheer and gamble on their local team (as I am for ESK) but also supports a British cricket team, an Italian football team and a North American ice hockey team. And to classify gambling on these teams illegal because it is taking place on the internet rather than in a physical store is the same ugly face of protectionism showing itslef again but wearing a different mask.
Enjoy your conference!
