Europe

Breaking Down the Adversarial Wall – Building the operator and regulator relationship through education and dialog

As the gaming industry continues to expand as a form of entertainment across the globe, operators and suppliers typically have three questions when they are looking at a brand-new jurisdiction or an expansion in an existing jurisdiction.  Those three questions are: what is the tax rate, what is the license fee, and who is the regulator?

On the flip side, legislators and regulators will seek input from prospective or existing operators as jurisdictions look to craft a new market, expand their market, or bring further innovation.  The balance between these interests can in some cases become awkward as operators look to effectively compete while also balancing the public policy goals of the market and allowing a strictly regulated market.

The crux of this is creating a healthy balance that allows effective regulation in the market, and not to be overly influenced by an operator or an outside stakeholder.  However, regulators must also allow ongoing, healthy dialogue and input into how a market needs to be crafted, how regulations may impede innovation, or how stakeholders can effectively operate in a market that allows the right amount of competition.