On the first day of the SiGMA Central Europe Summit in Rome, a highlight of the Affiliate Leaders Stage was the panel discussion “Voices of Authority: Inside Europe’s Regulatory Roundtable.” The panel included an esteemed collection of regulatory leaders from multiple jurisdictions, each sharing profound insights on how national frameworks may evolve towards a more harmonised and resilient European iGaming market.

The panel featured Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA); Jānis Ungurs, Director of the Legal Department at Latvia’s Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection; Alexsandar Popov, Director of Bulgaria’s Directorate Supervision of Gambling and Gambling Activities; Panagiotis Trisokkas, President of the Cyprus National Betting Authority; and Dott. Antonio Giuliani, Manager at Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM).

A shared vision for alignment

While every jurisdiction works from different legal and cultural realities, all of the panellists acknowledged the increasing demand for regulatory coherence at the European level. Fragmentation continues to be a significant challenge through the current process, as national authorities seek to balance the individual needs of local markets with the demands of cross-border competitiveness and consumer protection. The discussion illustrated how the presence of shared regulatory principles can enhance confidence in industry and reduce inconsistencies that burden operators, affiliates, or partners.

The EGBA was presented as pivotal in this process, serving as a conduit between private operators and public authorities. By working with both parties to advocate and collaborate on the best policies, the association aims for compliance, increased market transparency, and responsible gambling across member states.

National insights and collaborative progress

Latvia’s developing approach to monitoring continues to put data-driven supervision and player welfare front and centre of its strategy, emphasising technology-related monitoring of operators and enhancing accountability. Bulgaria’s regulatory approach, meanwhile, is predicated upon predictability and the strict enforcement of unlicensed activities, ensuring regulated operators can compete and operate on equal footing.

Cyprus continues to advance its collaborative efforts with other European markets, enhancing mechanisms for information exchange to combat illicit betting and maintain regulatory integrity. Italy’s ADM, as the summit’s host nation, shared its progress in digitalising administrative processes, improving traceability, and promoting stronger engagement with stakeholders to future-proof its national gaming landscape.

Driving future-ready governance

The discussion underlined a mutual understanding that Europe’s success in the global iGaming sector depends on transparent, adaptable, and technology-driven regulation. Cooperation between member states, the EGBA, and supervisory authorities remains essential to ensuring consumer protection while supporting innovation and sustainable market growth.

As Europe’s iGaming ecosystem continues to expand, the regulators’ roundtable demonstrated a unified commitment to building trust, refining compliance practices, and fostering an environment where both players and operators can thrive under fair, responsible, and modernised governance.

For more insights from the SiGMA Central Europe Summit, visit the SiGMA website.

Quelle: SiGMA Group