Maarten Haijer has been appointed director general of the World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA), signaling a notable shift in global gambling regulations. Transitioning from Algonquin Consulting, Haijer brings over ten years of experience in European gambling lobbying and regulations to this new position.
He previously served as the secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) for 13 and a half years, until September 2023. Under his guidance, the EGBA experienced marked growth and increased its engagement with both European Union institutions and national regulators. The association recognized Haijer for promoting "safe, well-regulated and competitive multi-licensed markets" throughout Europe and for initiating the annual European Safer Gambling Week.
Haijer's career also encompasses roles at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands’ Permanent Representation to the European Union.
The WGBA has announced that it will embark on a global initiative aimed at engaging policymakers and strengthening the evidence base for gambling regulation under Haijer's leadership. This alliance is set to be formally launched later this year.
In a LinkedIn statement, Haijer outlined the organization’s goal of uniting the international gaming and betting industry under the principles of effective regulation, high standards, and evidence-based policy. He reiterated the importance of ensuring that gambling remains "a lawful, safe form of entertainment" for adults.
The Geneva-based non-profit will be structured with a general assembly, a board, and a secretariat, with founding members including notable entities such as EGBA, Flutter Entertainment, FDJ United, Bet365, and Entain.
Haijer also emphasized the critical need for well-regulated gambling markets, citing a report from the Campaign for Fairer Gambling. The report projected that by 2025, unregulated operators would account for €91.6 billion ($102.4 billion) in gross gambling revenue within the EU’s 27 member states, dwarfing the €36.5 billion generated by regulated operators. This would position the unregulated sector at 72% of the anticipated total of €128 billion for online gambling.
