european-court-rejects-german-gambling-restrictions

European Court rejects German gaming limitations
bet9ja.com
8 September 2010

German betting restrictions breach European Union law, the EU's greatest court has actually ruled.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said German laws that protect state monopolies for gaming were "unjustifiable".
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The judgment could open the way for foreign wagering companies to develop an existence in .

A lobby group representing gambling firms, including PartyGaming and Bwin, called the judgement a "landmark".
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German authorities have actually validated betting monopolies by stating that they assist protect customers from the negative results of betting.
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But the ECJ said this promotion code was irregular with Germany's yohaig promotion code and "intensive advertising" of its gambling operations.
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The court said: "The German guidelines on sporting bets constitute a restriction on the flexibility to supply services and the liberty of establishment.

"The general public monopoly of the organisation of sporting bets and lottos in Germany does not pursue the objective of combating the threats of gambling in a constant and organized way."
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Several foreign wagering companies, including Britain's Happy Bet and Gibraltar's Digibet, brought a case against German local authorities in Hesse and northern Schleswig-Holstein.

The European Gaming and Betting Association welcomed the judgment.

"this promotion code is a landmark ruling which will have a definitive influence on the much-needed reform in Germany," it stated in a statement.
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"Other member states have actually opened or are opening their markets. They show that customers can be much better protected in a market that is both controlled and available to competitors," it said.

However, European Lotteries, a lobby group for national lottos in 40 nations, challenged whether the judgment would open up the German market.

"On the contrary," the group said in a statement, "the court reminded Germany that it has to manage more strictly the bet9ja's welcome offer of hazardous types of betting such as casino games and video gaming makers.

"The court pointed again to the higher threats connected with internet gaming."

EGBA

European Lotteries