The Internal Market Committee approved a resolution in which asks EU-wide cooperation to counter the black market and protect children and vulnerable consumers regarding online gambling. They also think EU Member States should be free to maintain their own rules on this

The Internal Market Committee approved a non-legislative resolution which states that EU Member States should be free to maintain their own rules on online gambling, but should also step up EU-wide cooperation to counter the black market and protect children and vulnerable consumers. Therefore, the resolution clearly rejects the idea of an EU law to regulate online gambling and emphasises that regulation of all gambling is subject to the subsidiarity principle. In February 2010, the Commission proposed to regulate cross-border online gambling.

The resolution also suggests introducing a licensing model to ensure that gambling providers meet the criteria imposed by the host Member State and that competition is fair and transparent. In addition, it calls for stronger cooperation among regulatory bodies to give them a sufficient remit, with the Commission acting as coordinator, to develop common standards for taking joint action against unlicensed gambling providers and possibly blacklisting illegal ones. MEPs proposes to use the Internal Market Information System (IMI), an electronic network linking public authorities within the EU, as a basis for a more effective cooperation.

Regarding the social consequences of online gambling, the resolution stresses that in order to protect especially vulnerable and young players, controls such as age verification and restrictions for electronic payment need to be in place before any gaming activity begins. MEPS also call on the Commission to explore common standards for operators or a framework directive and say that a European code of conduct for online gambling providers could be a first step, to protect vulnerable consumers.