European countries are once again in a divided state about their opinion on the best and most fair way to regulate online gambling in Europe and if the European Parliament should regulate this incredibly profitable and popular activity or if the individual states should be given the opportunity to navigate this issue themselves. A great deal of member of the European Parliament are in favor of the idea that individual states should be able to determine if and how to regulate online casino wagering in their own countries. Nevertheless, others think that the European Union is the body that should define a standard set of rules which are to be adopted by and applied in all states which form part of the European Union.
Currently in Europe, each state is solely responsible for their own online gambling laws. Nevertheless, the real issue is based in the fact that online gambling is considered a hobby that has no borders and is ultimately defined as an international gambling activity. Moreover, while member states may want to regulate their own online gambling industries, they could find it physically impossible to achieve, considering the nature of this online activity.
The European Union is strong in the belief that since so many different laws govern the online wagering industry on one continent, standardization of the internet gambling industry is more than necessary Earlier in 2011, Liberal member of Parliament from Germany, Jurgen Creutzmann released a green paper which suggested whether the European Parliament should be the venue to determine the rules, or whether it should be left up to individual states and proposed the legalization of internet gambling should take place through the EU. The main goal of the green paper was more cooperation between states. Creutzmann stated that, “Member states alone are not in a position to regulate all areas of internet gambling, much expanded cooperation between national regulatory bodies is therefore essential.”