MEPs from nine countries voted in favour of the alternative report, which calls for the consistent application of high standards of consumer protection across Europe and recognises the tools the internet brings to the sector in terms of financial traceability and ability to detect match-fixing.

 Ms. Schaldemose's report uses the issue of consumer protection as a pretext for the subversion of the internal market. As a UK-licensed operator, Betfair complies with extensive consumer protection requirements which meet the standards of those in force in any EU Member State. Discrimination against non-monopoly operators is, therefore, unjustified and inconsistent with the principles of the internal market.

 Betfair Managing Director Mark Davies said: "We believe that MEPs from countries which have monopoly operators who supported the alternative report have sent a clear signal that the current hypocrisy has gone on long enough.

 "They want their government to respect the rights and wishes of their citizens to be able to gamble in a safe environment where they benefit from the highest standards of protection, rather than merely protecting their state-run operators."

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---