European Court declines German gaming limitations

8 September 2010

German gaming constraints breach European Union law, the EU's highest court has actually ruled.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said German laws that protect state monopolies for gaming were "unjustifiable".

The ruling might open the yohaig code way for foreign wagering companies to develop a presence in Germany.

A lobby group representing betting firms, consisting of PartyGaming and Bwin, called the judgement a "landmark".

German authorities have actually validated wagering monopolies by stating that they assist safeguard consumers from the yohaig code unfavorable results of betting.

But the ECJ said this promotion code was irregular with Germany's promo and "extensive marketing" of its gaming operations.

The court stated: "the yohaig code German guidelines on sporting bets make up a constraint on the flexibility to bet9ja's welcome offer services and the yohaig code freedom of facility.

"The public monopoly of the organisation of sporting bets and lottery games in Germany does not pursue the objective of combating the risks of gambling in a consistent and systematic manner."

Several foreign betting companies, including 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 ruling.

"this promotion code is a landmark judgment which will have a decisive effect on the much-needed reform in Germany," it stated in a statement.

"Other member states have actually opened or are opening their markets. They show that consumers can be better safeguarded in a market that is both regulated and open to competitors," it stated.

However, European Lotteries, a lobby group for national lotteries in 40 countries, challenged whether the ruling would open up the German market.

"On the contrary," the group stated in a declaration, "the court advised Germany that it needs to manage more strictly the deal of unsafe types of gambling such as casino video games and video gaming devices.

"the yohaig code court pointed again to the greater threats connected with internet gaming."

EGBA

European Lotteries