European gaming industry urges regulators to ensure a level playing field
Representatives of the European gaming entertainment industry, gathered in Brussels on the 23rd May for the Annual General Meeting of Euromat, urged national regulators to ensure a level playing field between the online and land-based sectors.
Written by Redazione
Amongst other national regulatory developments, Euromat members highlighted discriminatory tax treatment in Denmark and the Netherlands as examples which could have tough economic consequences for gaming operators that currently employ more than 250,000 European citizens achieving revenues of more than €21 billion.
Commenting on the discussions, Euromat’s President Annette Kok said: ‘The land-based gaming entertainment industry is already highly taxed and highly regulated. Today’s discussions highlight that governments need to ensure that they regulate and tax in a way which allows land-based gaming companies to compete on a level playing field. Fair treatment will allow the sector to contribute positively to Europe’s leisure industry and create more European jobs’.
The meeting also saw the election of successful UK entrepreneur Nick Harding onto Euromat’s Executive Committee as the representative of Bacta, the voice of Britain’s amusement industry.
Commenting on his appointment, Nick Harding said: ‘I’m passionate about the gaming entertainment industry so I’m pleased to be more closely involved with Euromat as the voice of our sector across the EU.
‘Gaming, like other parts of the leisure industry, has had to cope with tough economic conditions in recent years. Euromat has to continue to support European gaming to become more competitive by ensuring that governments fully understand the importance of a fair regulatory environment’.