SiGMA Europe, the Virtual Expo, has begun, and it’s already started warning the continent that things are getting rough. The first panel of the day, “2020 in a Nutshell”, warned legislators that Europe may fall behind the competition if new regulations continue to clamp down on the industry.

The Covid-19 pandemic has a lot to do with why operators and regulators are concerned about the new status-quo, as it has sometimes led to legislator overreach. “The truth is that the situation has changed,” said Yanica Sant, Head of International Affairs and Policy, Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). “The attitude has changed, the world has changed, it’s become more regulated.”

From her perspective, operators would be wise to not test limits at this time. “The truth is there is a higher price to pay, not just financially, but as the public perception becomes worse, so do the legislative initiatives become stricter,” she said.

Maarten Haijer, Secretary General for the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), said that there is a balance to strike for regulators and legislators as well. If operators can’t advertise and becomes less attractive betting options than their international counterparts, customers will vote with their wallet. “Clearly, the position of Europe will be relatively weakened compared to especially the US jurisdictions,” he said.