European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) secretary-general Martin Haijer believes Iceland can follow Nordic neighbours Denmark and Sweden by successfully adopting an open licensing regime for gambling operators.

The only six entities in Iceland that have been granted a gambling licence must invest their proceeds into social causes, squeezing out the private sector. A report earlier this year by the Iceland Review magazine claimed that Icelanders spend about ISK20bn ($146m) on unregulated foreign gambling websites annually.

He warned that the current system is “at odds” with almost all other European countries, as well as Icelanders themselves.

https://cdcgaming.com/brief/egba-chief-calls-for-iceland-to-rethink-monopoly-market/

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Maarten Haijer

Secretary General

Maarten Haijer is the Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), representing the leading online gambling operators licensed and regulated in the EU. Before joining the EGBA as director for regulatory affairs, Maarten worked as the internal market and consumer protection counsellor at the Netherlands permanent representation to the EU. Prior to that he held several positions in the Dutch ministry of economic affairs, dealing predominantly with EU and WTO trade policy issues. T: +32 2 554 0890 E: maarten.haijer(at)egba.eu

https://www.egba.eu/about-us/egba-team/