Even if next spring we will return to vote to elect new members of the European Parliament, the gaming theme continues to inflame the discussion both in Strasbourg and Brussels. And the attention is entirely focused on how to ensure common standards for the protection of players, respecting the state prerogatives. A particularly difficult goal in the case of online gaming which, because of its typical nature, easily escapes by “physical” borders. This one, as well as many other aspects of Community policies about gaming, is the topic we talked about with Aldo Patriciello, member of Eurpean parliament of PPE.
European Parliament has recently approved the Fox resolution online gaming. What are the most critical situations of the regulatory fragmentation that there is on online gambling in the EU?
"In the field of online gaming is duty of Member States to determine the organization and control of gaming offer. This, however, leads to a nonuniform contest where European citizens found significant differences towards the kind of “offers” and “protection” among different Member States. I hope in the development of an overall European framework intervening towards the fragmentation of the regulatory framework applied to gambling by the various Member States and how this one influences the competitiveness of regular operators and the various protections to citizens".
In a question to the European Commission you focused to the need for a cooperation between Member States in order to curb the spread of slots. Do you believe that this is an emergency at a European and Italian level?
"I think that, especially ina period of deep economic crisis, a lot of people are charmed by the possibility of an immediate gain as a win. Numbers about the opening of gaming places in our country are exponentially higher to the opening of any kind of business and, even not wishing to penalize a deeply growing field, I think it is necessary to implement an appropriate regulatory framework that enables the viability of the field and the protection of any categories that might be particularly at risk".
How do you think it is suitable to intervene, always within both European and Italian area?
"In addition to an update of the existing rules I still hope that we can arrive at a community framework pproviding more information and protection to the groups at risk, such as young people and retirees. I actively support, on one hand, the need to protect minors, vulnerable people as well as all consumers from any damages arising from gambling and on the other hand I believe that all the concerns related to this economic field should be faced adopting a practicable and coherent licensing system and see that member states can apply it in a non-discriminatory way and to all interested operators. More control and more protection doesn't mean forced repression or gambling sabotage, but rather it means allows it to grow and develop without being harmful for some groups".
This European legislature is coming to an end. According to your opinion, it has done enough about gaming? In what areas it has been lacking, a gap that you hope could be filled in next legislature?
"No, I don't think so. I hope that this journey has just begun and everyone understood the need to face the problem, intervening in the next legislature too. I repeat that the purpose is not to sabotage or to stop the proliferation of slots or of the field, but find a European framework that adds this activity in a regulatory framework that will allow a not inflated and above all a not potentially harmful development".
How we can and should protect consumers from the dangers of online gaming, or maybe even from the physical gaming, at a community and national level?
"From my point of view, for online gaming many steps away have been made, compared to the possibility of physical gaming. From my point of view the next step should be to go to protect people seeing in gaming their only chance to improve their standard of living. This is a defeat for the state and for Europe. Gaming can cause addiction and lead people in extreme conditions. This is the aspect that I want to fight and try to check".