Brussels, 24 February 2021 - The European Lotteries (EL) welcome a recent statement by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), to give a lower priority to gambling complaints as they are considered a matter for the national courts [1]. The ESA, which has worked on a number of gambling-related cases over the years such as previous interventions on issues such as Norway's right to maintain a monopoly on gaming machines, will no longer consider it a priority to use its infringement powers to promote a single market for gambling. The European Commission took a similar approach back in 2017 [2].
‘‘EL welcomes the recent ESA decision which aligns with the European Commission approach back in 2017. Concerns about public order and consumer protection are best dealt with by controls and regulation at national level.’’ says Arjan van ‘t Veer, EL Secretary General.
The ESA statement emphasises the importance of effective legislation and regulation of gambling services at national level.
‘‘Nationally licensed and regulated lotteries have proved to work successfully for generations. EL fully supports the continued application of the ‘’principle of subsidiarity’’ in the gambling sector, as the key element to secure and safeguard the common objectives of general interest – consumer protection, the fight against gambling addiction and illegal operations’’, adds van ‘t Veer.
According to the official ESA statement, the EFTA Court, and the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) have ‘’repeatedly recognised EEA States' considerable margin of appreciation to restrict gambling services when pursuing legitimate public interest objectives such as the protection of minors, the fight against gambling addiction, and to combat irregularities and fraud’’ [3]. Gambling complaints would be instead handled more efficiently by national courts when facing problems with EEA law in the gambling sector.
EL continues to call for the support of national gambling policies through the principle of subsidiarity, sustain the current widespread model of national lotteries in Europe and safeguard the benefits of national lotteries for society. [4]
ENDS
Notes
[1] EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) monitors Norway's compliance with EEA rules.
[2] EC press release 7 Dec 2017 - EC closes infringement procedures and complaints in the gambling sector
Contact
Iva Zorko, Policy Officer, European Lotteries, M +32 489 561 837, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lucy Lenaers-Mathieson, Communications Officer, European Lotteries, M +32 470 84 75 73, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the European Lotteries (E)
EL is the European umbrella organisation of national lotteries operating games of chance for the public benefit. EL has members from more than 40 European countries including all EU Member States. The EU members contribute more than 20 billion EUR p.a. to the state budgets and the funding of sport, culture, social projects, research and causes of general interest. Unlike many commercial online gambling operators, EL members only offer gambling and betting services in the jurisdictions in which they are licensed by the respective national government. Website: www.european-lotteries.org, Twitter @EuropeLotteries, LinkedIn
Lucy Lenaers-Mathieson
Communications Officer
THE EUROPEAN LOTTERIES
New address per 1 January 2021 Avenue des Nerviens 9-31, 1040 Brussels (B)
T +32 2 234 38 23
M +32 470 847 573
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