“More can be done to protect children and adults from dangers associated with online gambling” says South East Euro MP Sharon Bowles

The European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will today vote to make online gambling safer.

Sharon Bowles MEP highlights gambling issues

Amendments tabled by the Committee's Chair,Sharon Bowles MEP, who represents South East England at the European Parliament, include:

• EU-wide introduction of monitoring and safeguards to prevent children from using online gambling sites.

• EU-wide protection of customers' deposits in the event that online gambling sites have their assets frozen.

• EU-wide introduction of a common definition for 'internet gambling' (so it applies to horse racing as well as poker).

• Cross boarder cooperation in recognising patterns of addiction and abuse.

• Giving future regulators the option to act in the case of irregular betting patterns.

Sharon Bowles MEP said:

"The Gambling Commission ensures that the UK's online gambling sector, which makes up 12% of the UK market and is worth approximately £600million per year to the UK economy, is properly monitored and regulated.

"With this in mind, I believe Member States across the EU should meet the high standards set by the UK, so that children and gambling addicts are not able to bet money with unregulated gambling sites that operate outside of any legal or ethical parameters.

"Online gambling can easily happen cross border - I've been looking at websites that offer a free introductory online account in pounds sterling or Euros, so any cross border regulation has to be beneficial and bear this in mind."

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