Is the European Court of Justice powerless in relation to online gaming?

**Buddy.** · 30 October 2009, 4:21 am

For anyone interested in recent European legal developments.....

I' ve put together my thoughts on the recent European Court of Justice ruling against Bwin in favour of the Portuguese Government and it's state run monopoly.

xhttps://onlinepokiesclub.com/why-isnt-the-european-court-of-justice-supporting-free-movement-of-services-for-the-online-gaming-industry/

**Betpartners** · 30 October 2009, 4:41 am

Hi Buddy

Great Article

There is a misconception that the EU is a free trade zone it is not

There are so many restrictions from country to country it is mind boggling

As an example here in Malta one is allowed to bring in a Car from another EU state freely as long as they pay a hefty tax, there are exceptions etc but in the main if you buy a €10k car in the UK expect to pay €10k in tax if you bring that car to Malta.

So the idea of free trade is very subjective.

Secondly there have been quite a few European betting scandals and this simply has given those European governments the ammunition they need to claim "crime" reasons for maintaining a monopoly.

Portugal is one of a few EU states that have a monopoly and the EU as a whole has no desire to force this issue and with the ECJ now making a decision i am afraid that it is unlikely that Bwin will win in Portugal any time soon.

**Casino Geezer** · 30 October 2009, 6:17 pm

Good article Buddy,

Agree with you too BetPartners; France is similar in that they have two monopolies - racing and sports. Betfair have already been told not to bother applying for licences come May or June next year.

**Peter01** · 1 November 2009, 2:57 pm

That Court should be disbanded. They're looking for things to do to justify their own existence. They end up lobbying all sorts of issues. They should stop interfering in the freedom of individual countries.

**Buddy.** · 2 November 2009, 6:18 am

Thanks for your feed back. It looks like its going to be difficult for existing gaming companies to break into these markets. The ECJ ruling is a bitter blow.

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