Maarten Haijer has been appointed the new director general of the World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA), signaling a notable shift in the global gambling regulation landscape. Previously serving as the executive at Algonquin Consulting, Haijer brings over ten years of expertise in European gambling lobbying and regulation to his new position.
His 13-and-a-half-year tenure with the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) saw him lead the organization until September. Throughout his time there, Haijer facilitated significant growth and increased engagement with European Union institutions and national regulators. The EGBA acknowledged his efforts in promoting “safe, well-regulated and competitive multi-licensed markets” across Europe and credited him with founding the annual European Safer Gambling Week.
Haijer's career also includes significant roles at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands’ Permanent Representation to the European Union.
The WGBA stated that under Haijer’s stewardship, the organization aims to launch a global initiative that will focus on engaging policymakers while enhancing the evidence that supports effective gambling regulation.
The formal launch of the WGBA is slated for later this year. In a statement shared on LinkedIn, Haijer highlighted the alliance’s goal to unify the international gaming and betting industry, advocating for principles of “effective regulation, high industry standards, and evidence-led policy.” He asserted that gambling should remain a “lawful, safe form of entertainment” for the majority of adults.
The Geneva-based non-profit will be organized with a general assembly, a board, and a secretariat, with founding members that reportedly include prominent names like EGBA, Flutter Entertainment, FDJ United, Bet365, and Entain.
In his LinkedIn remarks, Haijer stressed the urgent need for rigorously regulated gambling markets. According to a report from the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, by 2025, unregulated operators are projected to generate €91.6 billion ($102.4 billion) in gross gambling revenue within the 27 EU member states—compared to €36.5 billion for regulated operators—indicating that the unregulated sector could make up 72% of the estimated €128 billion online gambling market.
