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The European Commission this weekend voiced outrage over the German State Treaty on Gambling signed by all but one of 16 Bundesländer, or states, as it applies to online gambling.
From InterGame.com:
The EC opinion casts serious doubts on the proposed switch from “a transparent licensing model to one that is restrictive and opaque” and also raised doubts about the overall compliance and consistency of the Treaty with EC law. It has ruled that Schleswig-Holstein must not adopt the draft legislation before January 2013.
Sigrid Ligné, secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association, welcomed Friday’s statement: “Schleswig-Holstein’s proposed move from a sustainable and EC compliant licensing system to an inconsistent and unjustifiably restrictive regime would be significant step backwards, one that - as confirmed today - the European Commission cannot approve
“The European Commission’s detailed opinion against Schleswig-Holstein sends a clear message that member states are no longer going to be allowed to impose gaming regulations that fail to meet the tests set by the European Court of Justice.
‘”The German states cannot continue to ignore the warnings coming from Brussels and the growing criticism evidenced by the multiplication of complaints and litigation, even before the new legislation is introduced. This creates an extreme level of legal uncertainty which is damaging for all parties and German consumers in particular.
“At this stage, only the EC can restore legal security by acting on the many complaints it has received, not only against Germany, but also against Greece, Belgium and several other member states.”
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
