In this article Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, looks back at EGBA’s activities over the past year and outlines why sustainability must be at the forefront of the industry’s agenda.

Maarten Haijer: While analyzing the Sustainability report 2022/23, we can conclude that greater cooperation is crucial because, although there has been positive progress in recent years, there are still too many operators who continue to behave outside the norms of society. By doing this, they not only damage their own reputation but they undercutte the wider industry credibility. These operators need to wake up to the changing political and regulatory landscape: it is not 2007 and this is not a nascent industry anymore.

Although we do not necessarily agree with all the regulation that we see, regulation is part of being a mature industry. Rather than pointing the finger at “overregulation”, those operators should acknowledge that politics reflect broader societal demands, ask themselves why regulations are tightening, and work together with other industry stakeholders, including EGBA and its members, to find answers to society’s demands.

Critical self-reflection, however, requires commitment from the highest levels of leadership. That is why I am particularly pleased and thankful that, in this report, the CEOs of our member companies personally make their case for a sustainable approach to gambling. In their joint letter, they set out a clear direction of travel for this industry.

As I look ahead to the future, it is clear that sustainability must be at the forefront of the industry’s agenda. For our part, we will continue to encourage greater engagement, responsibility, and cooperation between stakeholders both inside and outside the industry.

Source:Home Page – EGBA