The Netherlands Online Gambling Association and the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, Branschföreningen för Onlinespel, have unveiled the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
Both parties stress that, although European gambling markets have not yet been harmonised, collaboration between member states is crucial on a variety of issues, such as consumer protection, the promotion of channelling and the protection of the integrity of sport.
“Sweden and the Netherlands tend to share the same standpoints in EU matters regardless of the topic,” noted Gustaf Hoffstedt, BOS Secretary general.
“It comes as no surprise for me that our first MoU with a national trade association is with our Dutch colleague. We both stand for a high level of costumer protection in every aspect of gambling.
“We also share a strong belief in the EU idea and therefore support free trade on equal terms. Protectionism and monopolism is not the way forward for the gambling industry. Licensing systems are.”
The two European sister organisations aim to work together to promote channelling and responsible participation in online gambling in both countries.
Furthermore, they will also mutually exchange information and share local best practices to help build a healthy, reliable and secure online gambling market in the two countries.
Peter-Paul de Goeij, NOGA managing director, added: “NOGA is very pleased with this official confirmation of the collaboration. Sweden has already led the Netherlands in the regulation of the online gambling market in the past two years.
“We can learn a lot from the experiences that BOS has gained during this period. Incidentally, the contact with BOS and other European sister organisations was already good and constructive, but with this formalisation we hope to further boost European cooperation between sector organisations.”
