French and Belgian regulators commence cooperation agreement
The protocol was signed by ANJ president Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin and Magali Clavie, president of KSC on 6 June, during the Gambling Regulators’ European Forum (GREF) event.
On 9 June, GREF appointed Falque-Pierrotin to serve as the organisation’s chairwoman.
The agreement allows ANJ and KSC to exchange information and collaborate on regulatory matters across the two countries. This will give both regulators the power to conduct joint investigations and publish collaborative reports.
Agreement details
These matters are listed as concerning licensing procedures, regulating online and land-based operators and consumer protection. Consumer protection matters will take into account marketing and problem gambling prevention.
In addition, ANJ and KCA will collaborate on more specific regulatory matters in their territories such as fighting against fraud, anti-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering.
In instances where information is exchanged between the two organisations, it must not contain personal data.
However, there are instances where the exchange of information can be refused by one of the parties. Under the agreement, acceptable reasons include if the information being requested might affect the public order of the country in question, or if the information being requested could affect a regulator’s proceedings against an operator.
Each regulator must also inform the other of any immediate changes in regulation in their respective countries.
Days before the agreement was signed, ANJ announced that it would impose a ban on athlete’s images being used in gambling communications.