 | | | |  |
|
|
| | | | | | > > > > EC Investigates Online Casinos Restrictions
|
> 16 Apr 2006
EC Investigates Online Casinos Restrictions
In recent weeks, several cases involving gambling at online casinos have been presented to the European Commission. Most of these complaints have cited the alleged contravention of EC principles on the part of those seeking to ban or restrict access to foreign online casinos. Some European Union members insist that each country should be able to make up its own mind on the issue of online casinos. However, EC officials have expressed concern about the actions of several members that have attempted to ban casino players from accessing privately owned gaming sites.
Some of the latest complaints brought to the EC’s attention include the Italian government’s implementation of a blockade to online casinos, and the French government’s decision to allow a state-run online lottery while preventing offshore online casinos from targeting French casino players. The EC has also made official requests for information to Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden to determine why these countries are restricting access to sports betting sites. All these countries restrict online betting and gambling at online casinos to protect state gambling monopolies, causing concern that the approach contravenes EC law.
A full inquiry is now under way, giving the seven countries two months to formulate a response. It follows complaints from several operators of online casinos; many of which have issued legal proceedings against EU member states. An EC statement on the inquiry says that restricting services in order to protect consumers on moral grounds must be consistent. An EU member cannot prohibit gambling at online casinos while at the same time promoting state lotteries or state betting activities. | |
|
| | | | | |
|
|
|
| Copyright 2006 No charge Casino All Rights Reserved. |
