Hands Across The Water, Gambling Regulators GREF And NAGRA Forge Transatlantic Special Relationship

GREF and NAGRA, the two key European and North American gambling industry regulatory bodies, have launched a transatlantic “Special Relationship” that aims to open a new era of international betting co-operation — and strengthen protection for punters.

This week the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) and the North America Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA)–which between them represent some 100 gambling regulatory bodies–announced a new partnership that aims to build alliances and share best practice between the world’s strongest and, arguably, most advanced betting hemispheres.

“With public opinion across the globe more and more concerned about the risks related to excessive gambling, and with the increase of gambling markets and innovations, exchange between regulators worldwide is crucial,” explained GREF Chair Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, who also heads the National Gambling Authority in France, Autorite Nationale Des Jeux.

“Regulators of GREF and NAGRA face the same issues and I believe that this collaboration will improve the protection of our consumers.”

For his part, Ryan Winfield, President of NAGRA, who also represents the Arizona Department of Gaming, responded:

Together, Stronger

“The power of partnership and collaboration between GREF and NAGRA is important in this ever-evolving industry.

“The changing landscape and the future of gaming makes it imperative that we reach out to other organisations in the industry in order to remain informed as we tirelessly serve our communities.

“This commitment to collaboration and communication will serve people across the globe.”

GREF–founded in 1989 and currently headquartered in the Paris suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux–and NAGRA–established in Missoula, Montana, in 1984–will co-host international seminars for regulators across North America and Europe on issues of emerging regulatory risks.

They will extend invitations to attend and speak at each other’s annual conferences, and hold joint meetings of their relevant interest groups.

NAGRA is made up of federal, state, local, tribal and provincial government agencies who are responsible for regulating gambling in North American markets.

GREF brings together gambling regulators from across Europe to exchange views and encourage common unified action on issues related to gambling, among them: regulation, supervision, compliance, control of operators and safe and responsible gambling.