ECA Partners with AGA and BGC in landmark collaboration to strengthen Regulated Gaming
The European Casino Association (ECA) is pleased to announce a landmark collaboration with the American Gaming Association (AGA) and the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC). This strategic alliance, formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), aims to address critical challenges facing the global gaming industry.
The partnership focuses on key areas, including combating illegal gambling, enhancing responsible gaming practices, driving innovation, and strengthening security measures. By combining our expertise and resources, we aim to advance the legal gaming industry and bolster consumer protection on a global scale.
Erwin van Lambaart, Chairman of the European Casino Association, emphasised the significance of this collaboration: "The European Casino Association stands united with the AGA and BGC in its commitment to addressing the key issues facing all gaming industry stakeholders. The ECA fully backs this initiative and supports the ongoing efforts to rigorously combat illegality within our industry, continuously strengthen player protection and security, and ensure the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and growth within the gaming community."
"This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe," said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. "By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices.”
“By fostering dialogue and cooperation across borders, the AGA, ECA, and BGC are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of the legal gaming industry and ensuring its continued growth and success,” Miller added.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst, said, “This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted and sustainable betting and gaming industry. BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration. Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the UK.”
The MOU facilitates joint research projects and creates opportunities for staff and members of all three organisations to share expertise and best practices. The first initiative will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling, scheduled for January 2025. This event will bring together industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and regulators to discuss strategies for enhancing cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address illegal gambling.
"On behalf of the ECA, I look forward to participating in the forthcoming law enforcement roundtable and to sharing the benefits of these learnings with our members," added van Lambaart. "This partnership represents a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of the legal gaming industry and ensuring its continued growth and success across Europe and beyond."