European Court rejects German gambling constraints
8 September 2010

German gambling constraints breach European Union law, the EU's greatest court has ruled.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said German laws that safeguard state for gaming were "unjustifiable".
The ruling might break the ice for foreign wagering business to establish an existence in Germany.

A lobby group representing gaming firms, including PartyGaming and Bwin, called the judgement a "landmark".
German authorities have justified betting monopolies by stating that they help protect customers from the unfavorable impacts of betting.

But the ECJ stated this promotion code was irregular with Germany's promo and "intensive marketing" of its gaming operations.
The court stated: "The German guidelines on sporting bets constitute a limitation on the freedom to provide services and the freedom of establishment.
"The public monopoly of the organisation of sporting bets and lottery games in Germany does not pursue the objective of combating the threats of gaming in a constant and systematic way."
Several foreign betting business, consisting of Britain's Happy Bet and Gibraltar's Digibet, brought a case versus German local authorities in Hesse and northern Schleswig-Holstein.

the yohaig code European Gaming and Betting Association welcomed the judgment.
"this promotion code is a landmark ruling which will have a definitive impact on the much-needed reform in Germany," it stated in a declaration.
"Other member states have opened or are opening their markets. They reveal that consumers can be much better secured in a market that is both managed and available to competitors," it stated.

However, European Lotteries, a lobby group for nationwide lottos in 40 countries, contested whether the judgment would open the yohaig code German market.

"On the contrary," the group stated in a statement, "the court advised Germany that it needs to manage more strictly the bet9ja's welcome offer of dangerous types of betting such as casino video games and video gaming devices.

"The court pointed once again to the greater threats connected with internet gaming."
EGBA
European Lotteries
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