The European Union's highest court is making it clear to all member countries that gambling laws that keep foreign companies out will not be tolerated. Austria became the latest nation to learn that the hard way on Friday.
The European Court of Justice on Friday ruled in favor of Bwin Entertainment, Betfair, and Ladbrokes in two separate cases this week. The court ruled that Austrian rules regarding gambling are unlawful because of the exclusion of foreign companies. The court believes that the laws in Austria, which claim to have the rules in place to combat crime, are unwarranted.
Earlier this week the court ruled similarly against Germany. In the Germany case, the court found the monopoly enjoyed in Germany to be inconsistent with keeping foreign companies out because of the advertising that the monopolies were allowed. The court found Germany's defense of protecting residents from gambling problems unstable due to the advertising that was taking place.
Friday, the court ruled that Austria could combat crime in a less restrictive way, and that the country could not stop outside licenses operators from doing business in the country. Of the twenty-seven nations that are part of the European Union, many have been reprimanded for their gambling laws.
The US may be next on the list of countries on the EU radar. The US has online gambling laws that keep foreign operators from operating in the country. The US does allow state lotteries to offer gambling online, and that may become a point of contention in the near future. The US has already been warned by the European Commission that they must come into compliance with trade agreements involving EU members.
The EU has not only awarded victory to the gaming companies. Italy and Portugal won the right to keep their monopoly's because they fell in line with policy goals of the country. Italy, however, has still taken steps towards opening up their gambling industry to outside gaming companies.
http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/european_union_court_rules_austrian_gambling_laws_is_us_next__55694.html
www.betfair.net
The European Court of Justice on Friday ruled in favor of Bwin Entertainment, Betfair, and Ladbrokes in two separate cases this week. The court ruled that Austrian rules regarding gambling are unlawful because of the exclusion of foreign companies. The court believes that the laws in Austria, which claim to have the rules in place to combat crime, are unwarranted.
Earlier this week the court ruled similarly against Germany. In the Germany case, the court found the monopoly enjoyed in Germany to be inconsistent with keeping foreign companies out because of the advertising that the monopolies were allowed. The court found Germany's defense of protecting residents from gambling problems unstable due to the advertising that was taking place.
Friday, the court ruled that Austria could combat crime in a less restrictive way, and that the country could not stop outside licenses operators from doing business in the country. Of the twenty-seven nations that are part of the European Union, many have been reprimanded for their gambling laws.
The US may be next on the list of countries on the EU radar. The US has online gambling laws that keep foreign operators from operating in the country. The US does allow state lotteries to offer gambling online, and that may become a point of contention in the near future. The US has already been warned by the European Commission that they must come into compliance with trade agreements involving EU members.
The EU has not only awarded victory to the gaming companies. Italy and Portugal won the right to keep their monopoly's because they fell in line with policy goals of the country. Italy, however, has still taken steps towards opening up their gambling industry to outside gaming companies.
http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/european_union_court_rules_austrian_gambling_laws_is_us_next__55694.html
www.betfair.net
