NBA President Highlights Player Safety and Fight Against Illegal Gambling at SiGMA Central Europe Summit

Strengthening player safety through an effective fight against the illegal gambling market and building public trust were emphasized as key priorities by the President of the National Betting Authority (NBA), Panagiotis Trisokkas, who represented the Authority at the SiGMA Central Europe Summit held in Rome from November 4 to 6.

The SiGMA Central Europe Summit, one of the leading international gatherings in the gaming sector, brought together thousands of professionals, regulators, and technology companies. Alongside the conference, an extensive exhibition featured gaming service providers, payment service providers (PSPs), and other technology-related enterprises, showcasing the latest innovations and developments in the industry.

During the conference, Mr. Trisokkas participated in the panel discussion “Voices of Authority: Inside Europe’s Regulatory Roundtable,” where he underscored that the illegal market remains the greatest challenge faced by European regulatory authorities operating within the betting and gambling landscape, particularly concerning player protection. He emphasized that players can only be truly safeguarded when they participate in games supervised by competent regulatory authorities.

Mr. Trisokkas elaborated that the EAS has implemented mechanisms to block illegal websites and recently developed a new regulatory bill designed to address the illegal market through a holistic approach. This bill introduces, among other measures, B2B licensing and the integration of new products under a regulated framework, aiming to boost transparency and strengthen oversight.

Furthermore, the President of the ESA stressed the importance of closer cross-border cooperation among European regulatory bodies, citing the borderless nature of online gambling. He explained that the ESA actively engages in international forums and working groups such as GREF, where it exchanges knowledge on legislative and regulatory frameworks and explores advancements in emerging technologies.

According to Mr. Trisokkas, the effectiveness of regulatory authorities should not be measured by the fines they impose or the number of licenses granted, but rather by their ability to ensure player safety, promote sustainable sectoral growth, and foster trust within the market. As he succinctly stated: “We succeed in our mission when players trust the legal market, providers see compliance as a value and harm reduction indicators are reduced,” he characteristically noted.

By fLEXI tEAM