Amsterdam / Lisbon, March 4 2021. The Netherlands Online Gambling Association ("NOGA") and Portugal’s Associação Portuguesa de Apostas e Jogos Online (“APAJO”) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (‘MoU’). The two European sister organisations thus give further substance to the long-standing warm ties between the two organisations. APAJO and NOGA will work more closely together and, among other things, jointly promote channeling and responsible participation in online gambling in both countries. In addition, they will mutually exchange information and share local best practices to help build a healthy, reliable and secure online gambling market in the two countries.
Although the European gambling markets have not yet been harmonised and the individual Member States have the right to regulate their gambling markets as they deem fit, there is no doubt that an exchange of experience and information between member states is hugely beneficial. After all, there is little difference between Member States in the importance of matters such as consumer protection, the promotion of channeling and the protection of the integrity of sport. Through cooperation and exchange, countries can learn from each other's experiences and thus avoid common pitfalls.
APAJO President, Gabino Oliveira: “We very much welcome the initiative taken by NOGA to lift the so far unofficial exchange of data and facts to the next level and launch an institutionalized regular cooperation. Although we see the social, economic and historical specificities of each EU Member State reflected in local gambling regulations, we are nonetheless all Europeans, and as such, there is an extensive common ground when it comes to online gambling-related topics like consumer protection, sports integrity, or advertising and data protection standards.”
NOGA managing director Peter-Paul de Goeij: “We are excited about our new partnership with APAJO. The Portuguese market is comparable to the Dutch market but lies years ahead with the regulation of the online market. We intend to frequently exchange market information and learn from best practices. Our cooperation with APAJO will benefit us hugely in jointly developing the Dutch online gambling market with all local stakeholders. We are confident that this step will eventually also add to an organic regulatory growth towards harmonisation of gambling regulation in the EU.”
About NOGA
The Netherlands Online Gambling Association NOGA is the industry association and advocate for online games of chance providers who are committed to a safe, responsible and attractive online games of chance offer in the Netherlands.
About APAJO
The Portuguese Online Betting and Gaming Association, APAJO, was founded back in 2018 with the overall aim to continuously help improve the legal framework for online betting and gambling in Portugal, to make it sustainable for local and international operators, to accompany new developments and trends and to keep betting and gambling entirely safe for all stakeholders: industry, sports and customers.
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