Laws in Online Gambling Face Changes

Bwin Interactive and Unibet Group Plc are among those online gaming companies which are requesting that the European Union laws, regarding online gaming, be changed. There is a plan, for the European Commission to begin collecting information regarding possible alterations.

The secretary general of the European Gaming & Betting Association, Sigrid Ligne said, "There is a big problem of market access today within the EU." He explained that there is a "need for an EU regulatory framework."

Betfair Ltd., Ladbrokes Plc and Bwin have brought cases to the EU courts questioning the legality of blocking their operations across the 27 countries of the area. There have also been issues brought to the EU courts concerning what are considered to be unjustified limitations on cross-border online gambling.

There have been continued investigations, through the Brussels based commission, to check if the national laws of Germany, France and Italy suit the EU laws. The EU has stated that their consultation will "determine if the differing national regulatory models for gambling can continue to coexist, and whether specific action may be needed in the EU for that purpose."

According to European Lotteries, which represents state lotteries, this plan is an indication that the commission has chosen to "enter into a real political dialogue" instead of finding "legal confrontation."

The EU has ruled on cases in both Italy and Portugal coming to the conclusion that their respective national gambling monopolies are legal. This is contingent on their conforming to policy goals to keep down fraud and gambling addiction. Despite this, the EU court system decided last year, that monopoly which exists in Germany in their sports betting and lottery markets is illegal.