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The Gaming Regulators European Forum, or GREF in its abbreviated form, was founded in 1989 and consists of representatives from gaming regulatory organisations throughout Europe. Its two main objects as stated in its constitution are:
- to provide a forum in which European gaming regulators can meet, exchange views and information and discuss policy on gaming matters; and
- on special occasions and with the agreement of participants represent the different views of European gaming regulators and also provide a central point of contact for enquiries directed at them from authorities or related organisations in Europe and elsewhere.
At its meeting in Stockholm from 24 to 27 May 2001, 61 participants were present from 18 European countries (Belgium,Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom). Also a regulator from Australia attended the meeting as an observer.
Invited guest speakers were Ray Bates (President European State Lotteries and Toto Association) on the activities of European Lotteries and Bengt Jönsson (President European Association of PMU's) on European cross-border betting co-operation.
Presentations were given by representatives of the Swedish gaming companies of Folkspel, Svenska Spel and ATG. Also a visit was paid to the horse racing track at Solvalla.
Under the chairmanship of Jouni Laiho (Finland), the major item on the agenda again was gambling on the Internet. In small break out groups and during the plenary session, delegates reviewed the GREF position statement on gambling on the Internet, which was adopted at the annual meeting of GREF in Helsinki on 15 May 1998. It was agreed that the position statement will remain unchanged, pending the outcome of the discussions within the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) about the development by that Association of its own position statement.
Reports were given by all delegations on any significant developments during the last year in their countries, such as major changes in general policies or regulations regarding gaming (including developments on Internet gaming), developments in specific areas (problem gambling, money laundering, illegal gambling, cross border trading) and significant developments in the gambling industries (lotteries, betting, casinos, bingo, slot machines).
Other items on the agenda included the new EU money laundering directive, the introduction of the Euro and the pending Portuguese case at the European Court of Justice.
This year, the biannual election of the Executive Board of GREF also took place. The Forum elected Lars Lundholm (Sweden) as the new Chairman of GREF. Other members of the Executive Board (re-)elected were Tom Kavanagh (United Kingdom), Eric van Vondelen (Netherlands), Jorge Rodrigues (Portugal), Srecko Kuncic (Slovenia), Signe Birne (Latvia), Vincent Farrugia (Malta) and Tuula Sundström (Finland).
The Forum agreed that its meeting in 2002 will take place on Malta from 24 to 28 April.
More information on GREF is available through its secretary Tom Kavanagh (Gaming Board for Great Britain, tel. +
44-207-3066255) or its administrator Eric van Vondelen (Netherlands gaming control board, tel. + 31-70-3614422).
