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Maarten Haijer Appointed as New Director General of World Gaming & Betting Alliance (WGBA)

By jili tutorial · October 13, 2026

Maarten Haijer Appointed as New Director General of World Gaming & Betting Alliance (WGBA)

A Strategic Leadership Shift in Global Gambling Regulation

The gambling industry’s regulatory landscape has taken a significant turn with the appointment of Maarten Haijer as the new Director General of the World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA). This move signals a concerted effort to strengthen international cooperation on gambling regulation and policy, with Haijer’s seasoned expertise positioned to shape the organization’s global initiatives.

Haijer’s Distinguished Career in Gambling Regulation

Haijer brings a formidable 16+ years of senior-level experience in gambling policy and advocacy to his new role, with a career spanning both private and public sectors:

  1. European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) (2009-2022)

    • Served as Secretary General for 13.5 years, overseeing EGBA’s expansion
    • Spearheaded the creation of European Safer Gambling Week, now an annual industry fixture
    • Championed multi-licensed gambling markets across Europe with emphasis on consumer protection and market integrity

  2. Dutch Government & EU Representation

    • Held regulatory positions at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
    • Contributed to EU policy development through the Netherlands’ Permanent Representation to the EU

  3. Recent Role at Algonquin Consulting

    • Provided strategic advisory services preceding his WGBA appointment

WGBA’s Ambitious Global Mandate

The newly formed Geneva-based non-profit organization has outlined three core operational pillars:

H3: Organizational Structure & Founding Members

H3: Primary Strategic Objectives

  1. Policy Engagement: Direct dialogue with global regulators and lawmakers
  2. Evidence-Based Regulation: Commissioning research to inform regulatory frameworks
  3. Industry Standards: Developing cross-border best practices for consumer protection

Haijer emphasized in his LinkedIn statement:

“Our mission unites the international industry behind principles of effective regulation, high standards, and evidence-led policy - ensuring gambling remains a lawful, safe entertainment option for consenting adults worldwide.”

The Urgent Need for Global Regulatory Coordination

Haijer’s appointment comes amid startling statistics about the prevalence of unregulated gambling:

H3: Key Challenges WGBA Must Address

What This Means for the Industry’s Future

The WGBA’s formation represents the most coordinated global effort to date to establish consistent regulatory standards. With Haijer’s leadership, the alliance is poised to:

As the organization prepares for its formal launch later this year, industry observers will watch for:

With regulatory pressures mounting worldwide, Haijer’s proven ability to balance industry growth with consumer safeguards may prove instrumental in shaping gambling’s global future.