Germany considers online gambling ban

German state leaders met Wednesday to discuss establishing a nation-wide online gambling ban, but opted to temporarily shelve the decision.

The move would prevent off-shore companies from operating in the country and comes after three states - Bavaria, Saxony and Hesse - passed their own laws outlawing Internet gambling.

As the government weighs the decision, the European Commission is working to harmonize the gambling policy in member nations. However, The organization is facing some resistance as local governments try to protect their gambling and lotto monopolies.

The three states who moved to ban online gambling did so to prevent Internet gaming operator Bwin Interactive from infringing on their control.

A spokesman for Bwin said the company welcomed the yesterday's postponement of the ban because it gives the states sufficient time to develop a legal framework for the German betting market in accordance with European law.

Bwin has also been accused of violating France's gaming laws, following its complaint that the country's gaming laws clash with competition rules in the European Commission treaty.

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