EU Court Rules That Italy Cannot Block Online Poker Sites

A European Union court has ruled that Italy cannot block online poker sites originating from outside the country.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that EU Member States are not to restrict national gambling markets in order to favour their own economic interest.

"Articles 43 EC and 49 EC must be interpreted as meaning that, under the current state of EU law, the fact that an operator holds, in the Member State in which it is established, an authorisation permitting it to offer betting and gaming does not prevent another Member State, while complying with the requirements of EU law, from making such a provider offering such services to consumers in its territory subject to the holding of an authorization issued by its own authorities.
"Articles 43 EC and 49 EC must be interpreted as not precluding national legislation which requires companies wishing to pursue activities linked to gaming and betting to obtain a police authorization in addition to a licence issued by the State in order to pursue such activities and which restricts the grant of such authorization inter alia to applicants who already hold such a licence."

- Ace King, Gambling911.com