40 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • JULY/AUGUST 2024 Safeguard National Lotteries Unique Role for Society In 2010, the EU Council recognised the positive impact lotteries make for society. EL calls on the EU institutions to reaffirm and protect the unique role national lotteries play for society in all EU Member States, the cultural heritage enshrined in their historical traditions and their principles. Fight Illegal Operators and Their Online Content Any operator offering gambling services to consumers in an EU Member State where it does not hold a national license, is de facto an illegal operator. EU policymakers should clearly distinguish legal from illegal operators. EL welcomes the concept of trusted flaggers introduced by the Digital Services Act, as a powerful tool in the fight against illegal content online in the lottery and wider gambling sector. What is illegal offline, should also be illegal online. Tax Operators in the Consumers’ Country Illegal operators avoid paying taxes in the countries where they operate. By doing so, they can offer more appealing pay-out rates, creating an unfair competition to the EL members. EL urges EU institutions and EU Member States to ensure that all gambling operators pay taxes in the country of the consumer. However, operators do not become legal solely by paying taxes. Strengthen Consumer Protection by Leveraging National Expertise Because of its peculiar nature, the sector is exempt from specific EU legislations, with the European Commission rather opting for non-legislative initiatives on this matter. EL calls on the EU institutions to maintain such approach, recognising that EU Member States are best placed to address local needs and achieve the highest level of consumer protection in the gambling sector. Take a Risk Based Approach to Advertising Advertising plays a crucial role in channelling consumers towards the legal and safer offerings. It should be handled responsibly at national level in strict observance with the risk based approach. High-risk games should be subject to more rigorous rules than the low-risk ones (lottery games). AI in Digital Gambling: Explore Opportunities, Prevent Misuse While AI can play an important role in consumer protection and responsible gaming, it also poses risks when misused. To ensure integrity, AI implementations in the lottery sector must be carefully assessed and ethically deployed, in line with EU and national applicable legislation. Sport Integrity: Urge the ratification of the Macolin Convention EL supports the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions and its key definition of “illegal sports betting” : “any sports betting activity whose type or operator is not allowed under the applicable law of the jurisdiction where the consumer is located”. EL invites EU institutions and all EU Member States that have not done so, to ratify the Convention. Include Lotteries into Environmental and Future Social Taxonomy In any future discussions on the review of the environmental taxonomy or the future social taxonomy, EU policymakers should take into account the unique characteristics of lotteries. A broad sectoral exclusion wouldharmELmembers by hindering their collaboration with investors and insurers. FOCUS POINTS Maximising Positive Social Impact, While Minimising Harm A new chapter begins for European Union (EU) governance for the next five years. In early June, the new European Parliament was elected and during the first plenary session in Strasbourg (15-19 July), Roberta Metsola was re-elected President of the European Parliament, and Ursula von der Leyen re-elected as European Commission President. During the new EUMandate (20242029), EL remains committed to closely monitoring key policy developments relevant for the lottery sector. Lotteries are not just games of chance; they are integral to the social fabric of Europe, and by acting for the public good, European society gains every year over 22 billion Euros in total. EL and its Members therefore believe it is crucial to safeguard the important societal role of lotteries and to protect the sustainable lottery model at national and European level. EL Manifesto In light of the new European Parliament and incoming European Commission (Autumn 2024), EL has published its eight most important focus points in its Manifesto. The aim is to informEU policy makers on the importance of national lotteries for society, to safeguard the sustainable lottery model, and to build alliances and relations with relevant stakeholders and influence debates at European level. Lotteries in Europe: At the Service of the Common Good The manifesto can, and should also be seen as a document that in general addresses the most urgent topics that the lottery sector is facing Europe wide. Some 20 ELmembers operate in non-EU countries with issues that are in many ways similar to those members within the EU-sphere. The manifesto acts also as an integrated part of the strategic outline of EL. Read the full ELmanifesto: https://shorturl.at/pWiWH
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