APAJO: The need for evidence in gambling regulatory decision-making

The majority of European countries have implemented some form of regulation for igaming, and the industry is now looking further afield for new growth opportunities, Ampersand member Annemarie Furtschegger explains.

Furtschegger, secretary general at Portugal’s online gambling association APAJO points out that for businesses to thrive they require legal certainty.

However, in many markets pandemic-related restrictions have instead created instability. Despite this, Furtschegger says some regulators – including the Portuguese authority – have actually been supportive of the industry.

By taking flexible approaches to regulation, and acknowledging the need for evidence and research, such bodies avoid any ‘randomness’ in regulatory decision-making, she says.