NAGRA wants to join forces with European regulators
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15 Aug 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes When Jeremy Locke, newly appointed president of the North American Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA), spoke of the need for closer ties with European regulators, it was more than just a call to action: it was an invitation to rethink the boundaries of gaming regulation.
A joint network to track down risky operators
Collaboration between continents is not just about exchanging ideas: it is a concrete response to market integrity issues. For example, a European football match on which North American players are betting heavily can raise red flags. If everyone works in isolation, the risk of opacity or late detection increases. By joining forces, regulators could intervene more quickly and effectively.
However, the road ahead will be fraught with obstacles. Jeremy Locke acknowledged that even minor differences between North American states complicate cooperation. Aligning with common standards while maintaining clarity for operators is a major challenge. Achieving harmonious regulation without turning diversity into a bureaucratic headache requires a delicate balance.
“We need to find a way for more seamless regulatory services in integrated markets. We should have high standards, but make it easy for operators to understand what requirements are.”
Official GREF-NAGRA partnership: towards a concrete framework
This ambition is not limited to words: it has institutional backing. Indeed, the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) and NAGRA formalised a structured partnership in 2023, mobilising around 100 regulators from both continents. This collaboration will result in:
- joint meetings of interest groups,
- reciprocal invitations to speak at annual conferences,
- the organisation of joint seminars on new emerging risks.
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) and GREF, pointed out that, in the face of expanding markets and increasing risks associated with gaming, exchange between regulators around the world is crucial.
And tomorrow? Towards a common framework?
No one is yet talking about a single universal model – that would be illusory in such a fragmented landscape. But everyone wants to converge on best practices. If successful models emerge, exchanges can be used to adapt them to local realities. The effectiveness of this dynamic will depend on the willingness to share, adjust and build a common protective foundation.