Earlier this week the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) published a new booklet aimed at governments and regulatory bodies in view of potential changes in legislation effecting online gambling. With a number of countries in the process of making changes in legislation, including the UK, it is no surprise we are seeing such actions. Which ever way you look at it online gambling operators are in for a hard time and no doubt eventually all countries will adopt similar tax and regulatory legislation.

On 22nd September at the EiG Conference in Milan the RGA published its new booklet, Online Gambling: key objectives for a successful regulatory and tax framework. Explaining the genesis of the document, Clive Hawkswood, RGA CEO, said that: ‘We are seeing an increasing number of jurisdictions, both inside and outside of the EU, moving towards the introduction of licensing and regulatory regimes for online gambling. The RGA’s members include some of the foremost authorities on remote gambling regulation and taxation issues and disseminating that experience and expertise can only help the production and delivery of viable remote gambling frameworks, in what is a relatively new area for many policymakers.’

Expanding on that message, Mr. Hawkswood further stated added: ‘The target audience is that important group of people in the wider world, such as politicians, policy officials and regulators, who are only just beginning to think about how they might accommodate the private sector gambling industry within their jurisdictions. Our message to them is that working in partnership with responsible operators and building modern remote gambling regimes that balance consumer interests and commercial opportunities presents the greatest prospect for new remote frameworks to be successful from a social and fiscal perspective.

The document’s key objectives are to create an online gambling market that is: fair and competitive; protects the young and vulnerable; crime-free; and attractive to consumers. These core principles have been the basis of the RGA’s discussions with regulators since its inception in 2005 (following the merger of ARGO and IGGBA), and during which time the organisation has engaged with a large number of regulators and policymakers on the detail of remote legislation.

About the RGA (taken from the RGA website)

They are a London & Brussels -based trade association whose members are all licensed for gambling purposes in Europe.

Membership includes most of the world's largest and most respected Internet gambling companies, many of whom also have interests in terrestrial gambling establishments. RGA members include the likes of 888, bet365, Betfair, Ladbrokes, Partygaming, Paddy Power, William Hill, Playtech, Rank, PKR and Virgin Games as well as many more.

They are committed to promoting a regulated and non-discriminatory environment for responsible licensed operators in the world's remote gambling markets.

The key objectives of the RGA are as follows:

• to provide an organisation for the benefit and service of remote gambling operators within the betting and gaming industry;

• to consider litigation and where appropriate support any of its members involved in litigation over the right to provide services;

• to represent, express and give effect to the views and opinions of remote gambling operators and their employees on commercial or mercantile matters;

• to encourage high standards of probity and integrity within the betting and gaming industry, both for the benefit of its members and the public generally; and

• to encourage social responsibility within the betting and gaming industry effected through various means including support for charities and initiatives to help those who have gambling problems.