Encouragement by EGBA for the Establishment of a Self-Exclusion Registry in Romania for Gambling
Casino Champs Back National Self-Exclusion for Gambling in Romania
The European gaming heavyweight, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), champions a national self-exclusion register for gambling in Romania.
EGBA's Advice on Self-Exclusion for Gambling
Recently, at a meeting with Romanian lawmakers, EGBA shared some key recommendations for establishing an effective self-exclusion framework for gambling.
Convened by the Romanian online gambling association, AOJND, the meeting included stakeholders from the industry. In an interview with Atena 3, a leading Romanian news outlet, EGBA's Secretary General, Maarten Haijer, underscored the significance of such a scheme.
To create an efficient self-exclusion network, EGBA advised numerous steps:
- Make it simple: A user-friendly, accessible self-exclusion platform enables gamblers to easily remove themselves from these activities.
- Keep it compliant: To protect users, the framework must adhere to GDPR data protection rules and be hosted on a government website.
- Include all operators: All licensed gambling operators, online and land-based, need to be included in the self-exclusion program.
- Enforce in real-time: The gambling self-exclusion program must be fail-proof and effective in real-time.
- Define exclusion tenures: Clear minimum and maximum time periods for self-exclusion should be established.
- Connect to support services: Gamblers who register for self-exclusion should receive information about resources intended to help manage their gambling behaviors.
- Exclude from marketing: Self-excluded individuals must be removed from gambling operators' marketing databases to avoid any promotional materials during the exclusion period.
As EGBA remarks, implementing a self-exclusion framework based on these recommendations would give Romanian players a much-needed safety net.
Self-Exclusion Registers Across Europe
Recently, EGBA lauded the growing use of responsible gambling tools across Europe. According to a recent EGBA report, 65% of the player base have utilized responsible gambling tools, totaling 21 million peopleβa record breaker.
With 17 EU countries now implementing a national self-exclusion register for gambling, this move is proven to minimize gambling-related dangers and shield consumers from the adverse effects of the activity.
In March, EGBA released a report highlighting that the European online gambling market represents 40% of the total gross gaming revenue.
Citations:[1] European Gaming and Betting Association. (n.d.). Self-exclusion. Retrieved from https://www.euba.eu/programmes/self-exclusion/[2] European Commission. (2022). Data protection regulation. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection_en[3] World Health Organization. (2020). Gaming disorder. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/gaming-disorder
In the context of EGBA's recommendations for a self-exclusion framework in Romania, it is essential to ensure that the framework is real-time enforceable, compliant with GDPR data protection rules, and includes all operators in the casino-and-gambling industry. To maintain a responsible gambling lifestyle, such a framework should also provide support services, exclude self-excluded individuals from marketing materials, and define exclusion tenures.
The implementation of self-exclusion registers for gambling across Europe, including Romania, can lead to significant improvements in player safety and minimizing gambling-related risks. According to EGBA's report, the European online gambling market, which represents 40% of the total gross gaming revenue, is continually adopting responsible gambling tools to promote a safer gambling environment for its players.
