At the recently held European iGaming Congress and Expo in Milan, the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) set forth a list of proposed measures for uniformly regulating European online gambling. The guide, titled "Online Gambling: Key Objectives for a Successful Regulatory and Tax Framework," outlines the key issues in establishing regulations for legal online gambling.

Currently, individual European nations operate autonomously when it comes to determining whether online gambling is legal. Among those that do permit online gambling, regulatory measures vary immensely.

RGA, a London and Brussels based online gambling association that counts among its members such influential companies as Playtech, Microgaming and Virgin Games, aims to promote a non-discriminatory regulatory environment wherein licensed operators may offer legal online gambling services.

Clive Hawkswood, RGA Chief Executive, explained that the guidelines were created as a tool for those countries that are considering legalization.

Of them, he said: "Our message to them is that working in partnership with responsible operators and building modern remote gambling regimes that balance consumer interests and commercial opportunities presents the greatest prospect for new remote frameworks to be successful from a social and fiscal perspective."

The 16 page guide is divided into three parts: Key Regulatory Objectives; Taxation; and Remote Gambling Verticals. Key objectives include fair gaming, protection of vulnerable players, and the provision of a crime-free environment. Taxation via gross profits is the recommended model. Gambling Verticals addresses how the regulatory structure will enable operators to generate revenue, which is of particular importance to those betting on poker and casino games.

The question as to whether anyone or any government read the guide and was influenced by it remains to be seen.