First pan-European consumer protection agreement for online gambling

eCOGRA CEO and the Chair of the CEN workshop agreement on “Responsible Remote Gambling Measures”, Andrew Beveridge, has welcomed the publication of the first Pan-European consumer protection agreement by CEN.
CEN is the European Committee for Standardisation, one of three European standardisation organisations officially recognised by the EU (www.cen.eu).
CEN draws up voluntary technical specifications, such as a CEN workshop agreement, to help facilitate a single market for European industry and consumers across its members in 31 European countries.
This CEN workshop agreement on “Responsible Remote Gambling Measures” (16259) defines 9 policy objectives for the protection of online players in the European Union and 134 concrete measures to ensure that those objectives are actually met.
The 9 policy objectives are;
1.         The protection of vulnerable customers
2.         The prevention of underage gambling
3.         Combating fraud
4.         Protection of privacy
5.         Fair gaming
6.         Accurate customer payments
7.         Responsible marketing
8.         Customer satisfaction
9.         Safe operating environment
CWA 16259 shows consensus across a wide range of remote gambling stakeholders – from experts on problem gambling and players to industry representatives and addiction and criminology academics – showing that there is real desire to work together to ensure consumer protection issues are fully addressed as important EU developments unfold.
As chair of the CEN workshop, Beveridge, said “Over the last 7 months, CEN has provided the platform for us to make this agreement to secure the high level of protection for consumers across Europe that is vital for the online gambling industry as it matures.
“eCOGRA intends to bring into line its own eGAP requirements with these CWA control measures, thereby benefiting eCOGRA, its sealholders and players.”
He added “This is self regulation at its best, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from across the world for the benefit of the consumer. This agreement can only complement existing industry standards and inform both national and EU regulation of online gambling. It has been an honour to be part of and chair this process.”
Through its services CEN provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other specifications.
CEN’s 31 national members work together to develop voluntary European Standards (ENs) in various sectors to build a European Internal Market for goods and services and to position Europe in the global economy.
By supporting research, and helping disseminate innovation, standards are a powerful tool for economic growth. More than 60,000 technical experts as well as business federations, consumer and other societal interest organisations are involved in the CEN network that reaches over 480 million people.

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