European Court Rejects German Gambling Restrictions

European Court declines German betting limitations

8 September 2010

German betting restrictions breach European Union law, the EU's greatest court has actually ruled.
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The European Court of Justice (ECJ) stated German laws that safeguard state monopolies for betting were "unjustifiable".
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The ruling could break the ice for foreign betting business to establish an existence in Germany.
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A lobby group representing gambling firms, including PartyGaming and Bwin, called the judgement a "landmark".

German authorities have actually justified betting monopolies by saying that they help secure customers from the negative results of gaming.

But the ECJ stated this promotion code was inconsistent with Germany's bet9ja promotion code yohaig and "extensive advertising" of its gambling operations.
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The court said: "The German rules on sporting bets constitute a constraint on the freedom to bet9ja's welcome offer services and the freedom of facility.

"The general public monopoly of the organisation of sporting bets and lottos in Germany does not pursue the objective of combating the dangers of betting in a consistent and organized way."

Several foreign betting business, including Britain's Happy Bet and Gibraltar's Digibet, brought a case versus German local authorities in Hesse and northern Schleswig-Holstein.

The European Gaming and Betting Association welcomed the judgment.
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"this promotion code is a landmark ruling which will have a definitive effect on the much-needed reform in Germany," it stated in a declaration.
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"Other member states have actually opened or are opening their . They show that customers can be better protected in a market that is both regulated and open 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.
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"On the contrary," the group stated in a statement, "the court reminded Germany that it needs to control more strictly the deal of harmful kinds of gambling such as casino games and gaming makers.

"The court pointed again to the greater threats associated with internet gaming."

EGBA

European Lotteries