German Online Gambling Ban To Be Challenged by EU

German Online Gambling Ban To Be Challenged by EU

Monday, 28 January 2008

It has been suggested through Reuters that the European Union will be taking legal action against Germany following Germany’s newly implemented online gambling ban. The EU are keen to press the action as quickly as possible, and will seek European Co

It has been suggested through Reuters that the European Union will be taking legal action against Germany following Germany’s newly implemented online gambling ban. The EU are keen to press the action as quickly as possible, and will seek European Commission approval as early as next week.
The move will most likely see the German government be handed a final warning from the EU, who claim that the legislation is discriminatory before finally being taken to the European Court of Justice.
The challenge from the EU surely won’t be a surprise to Germany, as the EU have been consistent in enforcing cross-border competition when it comes to services such as online gaming. The EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has started proceedings against almost a dozen EU countries over discriminatory policies regarding gaming or lottery sectors.
Germany and the European Union have clashed before when it comes to online gambling policy. Last spring a number of German states imposed regional bans, a move which was challenged and partially repealed by the Austrian company Bwin.
Any legal challenges made by the EU will be fully supported by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), which represents eight major European online firms and had previously filed a complaint with the European Commission over the German legislation.



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