Activities of Damien ABAD related to 2011/2084(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Online gambling (short presentation)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on online gambling in the Internal Market PDF (239 KB) DOC (155 KB)
Amendments (30)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Internet gambling market is growing constantly, and whereas this sector is unlike other markets on account the risks involved in terms of consumer protection and the fight against organised crime, as the CJEU has acknowledged on more than one occasion,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, in application of the principle of subsidiarity, there is no specific European legislative act regulating Internet gambling,
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas market fragmentation not only makes it difficult for regulated providers to supply legal offerings on a cross-border basis, but also makes it virtually impossible to protect consumers and combat the crime associated with gambling at the European level,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the value added by a pan- European uniform minimum standards for theapproach to combating crime and fraud, in particular when it comes to preserving the integrity of sport and protection ofng gamblers and consumers and for combating crime are essential, is considerable,
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. considers that more effective coordination against illegal sites is also necessary to discourage illicit operations; urges the Commission therefore to consider the possible introduction of interoperable EU standards regarding fraud detection and prevention with a view to improving global market monitoring;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas Internet gambling and betting, if not properly regulated, involve a greater risk of addiction and dangers than traditional physical, location- based gambling,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas gambling represents a considerable source of revenue for the Member States, for publicly beneficial and charitable purposes and for the fundingwhich is used mainly for the funding of publicly beneficial and charitable activities, such as tourism promotion, and of sport,
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. takes the view that the proliferation of on-line gambling represents a threat to the integrity of sport; stresses that keeping sporting events credible and honest is vital to the sports industry as a whole; stresses that this can only be done effectively at transnational level; considers that the European Union must therefore play a more prominent role in safeguarding the integrity of sport, a goal to be pursued bylongside all stakeholders;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas it is essential to ensure the integrity of sport and prevent further betting fraud, while ensuring a fair financial return for the sports and racing industries,
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the fact that the Commission has taken the initiative of launching public consultation in connection with its Green Paper on online betting and gambling, which will facilitate pragmatic and realistic consideration of the future of this sector in Europe;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 2
Paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) containmbat the illegal gambling market,
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 3
Paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) guarantee effective protection for young people and vulnerable gamblers,
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 6
Paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) that risks tospecific measures are promoted to guarantee the integrity of sporting competition are precluded and
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
(6a) that part of the value of bets goes to sports and horse-racing bodies, and
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Subsidiarity principle and European added value
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is of the opinion that the gambling sector has been very much shapEmphasises that any regulation of the gambling sector is subject to, and must be underpinned by, the Member States' different traditions and cultures and that gambling markets are very differently regulated, giving the subsidiarity principle a particularly important role in this sectorsubsidiarity principle; considers, however, that this principle must be understood to imply ‘active subsidiarity’ entailing cooperation among the national administrations to achieve closer harmonisation of practice;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Rejects, accordingly, any European legislative act uniformly regulating the entire gambling market, but nonetheless takes the view that, in some sectors, the added value of a uniform European approach would be appropriatis unquestionable;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Respects the decision by a number of Member States to ban Internet gambling totally; is opposed to government monopolies over on-line gambling, howevercognises the Member States’ discretion in determining how gambling is organised, while observing the basic EU Treaty principles of non-discrimination and proportionality; notes in this context the decision by a number of Member States to ban Internet gambling totally;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that, on the one hand, providers of online gambling should in all cases respect the national laws of the countries in which those games operate and, on the other hand, Member States should retain the exclusive right to impose all the measures they deem necessary to address illegal online gambling in order to implement national legislation and exclude illegal providers from market access;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is of the opinionEmphasises that the principle of mutual recognition of licences on the gambling market does not apply, but that nevertheless, in keeping with the internal market, simplified licence application procedures should be set up in some Member States; nonetheless recognises the need to avoid unnecessary red tape with regard to licence applications, while ensuring the pre- eminent role of the regulator in the Member State in which the application has been submitted; considers, therefore, that mutual confidence among national regulators needs to be enhanced through closer administrative cooperation;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to explore all possible avenues for introducing - in keeping with the principle of ‘active subsidiarity’ - for a common regulatory framework laying down binding high-level minimum standards with regard to preventing gambling addiction and betting fraud and to protecting young people; states that, where a provider complies with those minimum standards, the other Member States should recognise this accordingly, but may set further conditions; is of the opinion that a pan- European code of conduct for Internet gambling could be a first step;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission, should no other agreement be reached, to propose a directive onexplore all possible avenues for introducing minimum standards; states that, if necessary, thought should be given to stepped-up cooperation between Member States;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls therefore foronsiders the establishment of a regulator with suitable powers in each Member State to be a necessary step towards more effective regulatory cooperation; encourages, in this context, cooperation between national regulatory bodies to be considerably expanded, with the Commission as coordinator, so as to develop common standards and take joint action against the unregulated black market; states that, in particular for identifying gamblers and combating money laundering, national standalone solutions are not successful; states that the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) network and the Internal Market Information System could serve as the basis for this administrative cooperation;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission to review Directive 2005/60/EC1 on money laundering with a view to extending its scope to encompass all Internet betting and gambling
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Gambling and sport: the need to ensure integrity
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that bthe risk of fraud in sports competiting on, in particular,ons – although present since the outset – has been exacerbated since the emergence of the on-line sports betting sector; stresses that this risk is particularly acute in minor-sports competitions may, and therefore represents a risk to the integrity of sport; is therefore of the view that sport fraud and betting fraud should be penalised throughout Europe;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Reaffirms its position that sports bets are a form of commercial use of sporting competitions, and recommends that the European Commission and Member States protect sporting competitions from any unauthorised commercial use, notably by setting up a system for acquiring betting rights and by recognising sports bodies’ property rights over the competitions they organise, not only to secure a fair financial return for the benefit of all levels of professional and amateur sport, but also as a means to strengthen the fight against sports fraud, particularly match-fixing;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls for instruments to increase cross-border police and judicial cooperation and, at the same time, for a framework for cooperation with organisers of sports competitions to be considered with a view to facilitating the exchange of information between sports disciplinary bodies and state investigation and prosecution agencies, by setting up, for example, dedicated national networks and contact points to deal with cases of match-fixing;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Urges Member States to ensure that the fraudulent manipulation of results for financial gain or other advantage is prohibited by establishing as a criminal offence any threat to the integrity of competitions, including those linked to betting operations;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)