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The European Union, it seems, has collected enough arguments to formally oppose Germany’s ban on online gambling. They recently revealed that they plan to take legal action against the prohibition in the near future.
A Reuters article quoted sources “with knowledge of the decision” stating that they are planning to take definitive legal action against Germany, and that such action will be implemented in the near future. It would seem that time is of the essence to the industry and its supporters.
Beginnning January 1, 2008, Germany declared illegal all kinds of online gambling with the sole exception of horse racing. The measure took steps to ban online casinos as a whole, as well as slots only sites, and sportsbetting. The most surprising element was that the motion passed despite the European Commission’s policy for open markets. This policy is the strongest defense they now have against the prohibition.
The European Union’s internal Market Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, has primarily been striving against obstacles to cross-border competitive services such as internet gambling. These services make up a majority of the EU’s single market.
McCreevy and his team began their legal battle with Germany last year, before the full ban was even effective, over their laws. If the European Union continues on the course of action Reuters has reported, the whole issue may need to be resolved in the European Court of Justice; coercing Germany to comply with the open market policies.
The European Gaming and Betting Association, which includes BWin, PartyGaming and other powerful representatives for the world of online gambling, filed a complaint recently against the ban with the European Union, supporting the wave of opposition to the law.
When the complaint was filed, the European Gaming and Betting Association’s Secretary General Sigrid Ligne was quoted as to affirm the Commission to move the complaint quickly through the system so as to allow it to be used as support for the proceedings being prepared against Germany. Germany is not the only country under fire, however. McCreevy has also filed against a total of about 10 European Union countries and their laws, he says that restrain their gambling industries. Austria and France have been warned about their regulations; Denmark, Finland and Hungary have had to defend themselves in the past against the EU.
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