The trade body says there needs to be a long-term arrangement between the EU and UK

Brexit deal still brings data flow concerns for online gambling companies, EGBA warns

2021-02-01
Reading time 1:29 min
The European Gaming and Betting Association stated that the Brexit terms and conditions fall short of safeguarding online gambling, mirroring concerns of wider digital sectors. The interim deal to continue data transfers between the UE and UK will expire in less than 6 months’ time and there is no certainty as to what will happen next.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), a Brussels-based gaming industry trade body, has warned the European Union and UK government that current Brexit arrangements carry operational and business concerns for the online gambling sector.

On 24 December, the EU and UK agreed to a post-Brexit trade deal which outlines their future relationship now the UK has officially left the EU. However, the EGBA has stated that the terms and conditions fall short of safeguarding online gambling, mirroring concerns of wider digital sectors.

The association said in a statement last Thursday that Brexit brings a host of complications for online gambling companies, many of which will develop over the coming months. "This is particularly true for the crucial issue of online data flows, where there will need to be a long-term arrangement agreed between the EU and UK," EGBA explained. "While there is an interim agreement in place to continue data transfers between the two jurisdictions, this will expire in less than 6 months’ time and there is no certainty as to what will happen next."

Any UK-based online gambling company which manages, stores or processes data in the EU will still need to be fully compliant with the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR). EGBA last year published an industry code of conduct on data protection to help companies meet their GDPR obligations.

Maarten Haijer, Secretary General, EGBA said: "Without a long-term agreement which secures the smooth flow of data, online gambling companies who operate in both jurisdictions would need to decide, among other things, where best to locate their data hubs to ensure as little disruption as possible to their everyday operations. Irrespective of any future agreement on data flows between the two jurisdictions, we encourage any UK-based company which wishes to continue operating in the EU to sign up to EGBA’s code of conduct on data protection as a means to demonstrate they are fully compliant with GDPR.” 

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