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European Court Rejects German Gambling Restrictions

European Court rejects German gaming limitations

8 September 2010

constraints breach European Union law, the EU’s greatest court has ruled.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) stated German laws that safeguard state monopolies for gambling were “unjustifiable”.

The ruling could open the method for foreign betting companies to establish a presence in Germany.

A lobby group representing gaming companies, consisting of PartyGaming and Bwin, called the judgement a “landmark”.

German authorities have actually justified betting monopolies by stating that they help safeguard consumers from the negative effects of gambling.

But the ECJ stated this promotion code was inconsistent with Germany’s bet9ja promotion code yohaig and “extensive marketing” of its betting operations.

The court said: “The German rules on sporting bets constitute a restriction on the liberty to offer services and the flexibility of facility.

“The general public monopoly of the organisation of sporting bets and lottery games in Germany does not pursue the objective of combating the threats of gambling in a constant and systematic way.”

Several foreign wagering companies, consisting of 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 decisive impact on the much-needed reform in Germany,” it stated in a statement.

“Other member states have actually opened or are opening their markets. They reveal that consumers can be better protected in a market that is both regulated and open up to competitors,” it said.

However, European Lotteries, a lobby group for nationwide lottery games in 40 nations, challenged whether the ruling would open up the German market.

“On the contrary,” the group stated in a declaration, “the court reminded Germany that it has to manage more strictly the bet9ja’s welcome offer of dangerous kinds of gambling such as gambling establishment games and gaming makers.

“The court pointed once again to the greater risks connected with internet gambling.”

EGBA

European Lotteries