EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer Steps Down After 13 Years
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is set for a leadership change, with secretary general Maarten Haijer confirmed to be leaving the Brussels-based trade body at the end of August. According to reporting by Casino.org, Haijer joined the EGBA in 2008 and has led the association as secretary general since 2013 — a tenure spanning some of the most significant shifts in European online gambling regulation.
During his time in charge, the EGBA helped open several European markets to regulated competition and played a part in launching European Safer Gambling Week. Haijer noted that the sector had changed “almost beyond recognition” during his 13 years, describing its evolution from early-stage operators to “world-leading digital entertainment providers.”
Haijer said he would announce his next move “shortly” but gave no further details ahead of his departure.
Pierre Tournier Steps In
Senior director Pierre Tournier will take on the secretary general role on an interim basis from 1 September. Tournier brings more than 15 years of gambling industry advocacy experience to the position, including senior roles at the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council and the Remote Gambling Association — two organisations that will be familiar names to anyone following British gambling policy.
His background is particularly relevant for UK-based operators and players, given how closely EGBA activity intersects with regulatory standards that often influence British gambling legislation. Since joining the EGBA in November 2025, Tournier has focused on coordination with other trade bodies and the industry’s response to illegal online gambling — an issue he has flagged as the “biggest threat to players and to the regulated sector alike.”
Illegal Markets Remain Key Battleground
With the EU’s regulatory landscape shifting quickly, the unlicensed gambling market looks set to dominate the EGBA’s agenda under new leadership. Tournier has indicated the association will continue pushing for stronger player protections, higher industry standards, and better regulatory alignment across European markets.
For UK players and operators, the direction the EGBA takes on illegal market enforcement could have downstream effects on how British regulators approach similar threats domestically. You can stay up to date with related developments in our casino news section, or brush up on how regulation affects players with our guides.
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