GW08-p30-31-politics:Layout 1 21/12/09 13:36 Page 1
EUROPE
Gaming Report
CHINA
Euromat lambasts EU gaming report
Golden Dragon
praised for its
‘Chinese heart’
The Swedish Presidency’s recently published report on gambling and betting in the EU is inaccurate and
incomplete, according to the European Gaming and Amusement Federation.
n December 4, ulated provision of remote gam- tion, is that while the Presidency
O
2009, the Swedish bling services across the EU. “The lists a number of tools available to
Presidency pre- report mentions poker and promote responsible gambling, it
sented its progress gaming machines as the main systematically fails to mention
report on the Legal source of problem gambling in how the highly regulated land-
Framework for Gambling and Europe, contrary to evidence- based gaming and amusement
Betting in the Member States of based research which shows a machine sector has been - and
the European Union to the Com- real link between uncontrolled continues to be - a key promoter
petitiveness Council. While the remote gambling and problem of responsible gambling activities Li Qihong (right), the
report attempts to identify a gambling,” Euromat stated. in Europe, contrary to that done mayor of Zhongshan city
number of important issues with The second issue taken to by other gambling operators.
the intention of creating further task was that the Swedish report When Euromat brought these
dialogue on responsible gam- mentions the cost of problem omissions to the attention of the AMUSEMENT MANUFAC-
bling policy, Euromat, the Euro- gambling to EU Member States Swedish Presidency, it agreed TURER INSPIRES
pean Gaming and Amusement but does not mention the high with many of the group’s observa- REGIONAL GROWTH
Federation, said it falls short of level of tax contributions received tions. Nevertheless, Euromat Zhongshan Golden Dragon
factual, neutral representation of by the highly regulated land- said these observations were not has won praise from
the reality of the modern Euro- Annette Kok Sweden took up the six- based market. Euromat said it reflected in the final report, which Chinese government
pean gambling industry. month Presidency in July fails to address the seriousness of still contains many inaccuracies. figures as the amusement
The group said the paper the Swedish Presidency zones in the fact that unregulated remote “We do not find this report to be equipment company con-
“completely overlooks” several on the most regulated form of lotteries and scratch cards.” gambling companies continue to factually accurate and therefore tinues to grow its global
forms of gambling which cur- gambling, deeming it the greatest Euromat focused on three spe- provide services tax-free across representative of the European footprint. Exhibiting at the
rently take place across the EU. source of problem gambling, cific points in its criticism. First, the EU, bringing no benefit what- gambling industry,” Kok said. “We China International Games
“This report provides an incom- while failing to address the prob- while tackling the issue of problem soever to the customers of the call on policymakers to consult and Amusement Fair,
plete representation of the Euro- lems posed by other forms of gambling in traditional settings, Member States in which these the available evidence that pro- which was held at Zhong-
pean gambling industry,” said gambling such as remote gam- the organisation said the Swedish customers are based. vides a more balanced and thor- shan Exhibition Centre on
Euromat president, Annette Kok, bling and widely-available state- Presidency fails to mention the Inaccuracy number three, ough examination of such November 5-7, Golden
“and we are left wondering why run short odds games, such as high risks involved with the unreg- according to the gaming associa- important and sensitive issues.” Dragon’s booth was visited
by Li Qihong, the mayor of
Zhongshan city, and Lei
Yulan, the vice governor of
Anti-
Guangdong Province.
Over recent years, the
group has expanded its
video
reach, supplying its entire
range of games and amuse-
ments to markets around
the world. Last year, Golden
games
Dragon cut the ribbon on its
new Gaming and Outsourc-
ing Platform, a permanent
exhibition of sorts annexed
pressure
to its Zhongshan facility,
showcasing not only its own
products but also those of
group
other manufacturers in the
region.
Governor Yulan said:
“Zhongshan gaming and
closes
Anti-violent video games amusement companies
lobby shuts up shop should take the lead in
updating and upgrading the
‘game heart’ by our
national researching teams
It’s a victory for common sense as a vociferous lobby group with the sole intention of opposing ‘violent’ video
and technology energy,
making more and more
games has finally given up the ghost. games and amusements
equipped with Chinese
heart.”
T
he National Institute of Founded in 1996, the insti- In doing so, the institute - Rating Board gave the National transitioning the Institute’s Speaking at the Zhong-
Family and the Media, a tute took an adversarial funded primarily by Fairview Institute on Family and the programmes to worthy organ- shan fair, Zhang Xinjian,the
US-based collective approach to the video game Health Services - engendered Media a failing grade of its own, isations that I am confident vice minister of China’s
obsessed with video game vio- industry, pushing for more controversy from time to time. citing “inaccuracies, incom- will continue to educate Culture Bureau, said the
lence, has decided to end its stringent regulations on the In 2005, after analysing Stubbs plete and misleading state- parents and caregivers on our country’s games and
campaign. The group’s sale of video games to minors. the Zombie in Rebel without a ments, omission of material rapidly changing digital amusements industry
founder, psychologist David The group handed out annual Pulse, the group straight- facts, and flawed research.” culture.” musk seek to continually
Walsh, said the decision was “report cards”, invariably facedly claimed that the video In announcing the move, It would seem that, once update and upgrade its
made in light of “the current dreadful, assessing Entertain- game industry was promoting Walsh remained defiant, again, the video game sector products and demonstrate
challenging economic envi- ment Software Rating Board’s cannibalism. Later that year, stating: “The work is far from has proved that it can comfort- Chinese research and
ronment.” governing of the industry. the Entertainment Software finished and I look forward to ably outlast the nay-sayers. development prowess.
GamesWorld | 30 | December 2009/January 2010
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