Maarten Haijer has been appointed the new director general of the World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA), signaling a shift in leadership within the global gambling regulatory sector. Haijer steps into this position from Algonquin Consulting, bringing with him over ten years of experience in European gambling lobbying and regulation.
He previously served as the secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) for 13 and a half years, a role he held until last September. During his time at EGBA, he led the association through a period of significant growth, enhancing its involvement with European Union bodies and national regulators. The EGBA recognized Haijer's efforts, noting his dedication to promoting “safe, well-regulated and competitive multi-licensed markets” throughout Europe. He was also instrumental in establishing the annual European Safer Gambling Week.
Haijer’s career includes positions at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands’ Permanent Representation to the European Union. Under his leadership at the WGBA, the organization aims to launch a global initiative that engages policymakers and strengthens the data supporting gambling regulation.
In a LinkedIn announcement, Haijer articulated the alliance’s goal of uniting the international gaming and betting industry around principles of “effective regulation, high industry standards, and evidence-led policy.” He underscored the importance of maintaining gambling as “a lawful, safe form of entertainment” for a majority of adults.
The WGBA, based in Geneva, is set to be structured with a general assembly, board, and secretariat. Its founding members reportedly include significant players such as EGBA, Flutter Entertainment, FDJ United, Bet365, and Entain.
In his statements, Haijer has asserted that the case for well-regulated gambling markets “has never been more important.” A recent report by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling highlighted that by 2025, unregulated operators could generate €91.6 billion ($102.4 billion) in gross gambling revenue across the EU's 27 member states, dwarfing the €36.5 billion from regulated operators. This projection suggests that unregulated markets could account for a striking 72% of the total €128 billion online gambling sector.
