Tuesday, March 6, 2007

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Italy restricting freedom of services, court rules

By Erin Warner

The online gambling industry is applauding a decision by Europe's highest court that has thwarted Italy's efforts to ban offshore competition.

The country can't impose a monopoly on the gambling market by using criminal law to stop other European Union nation licensees from doing business in Italy, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled today.

Italy's current ban on licensing outside publicly traded companies prevents the freedom to provide services, the court ruled.

It also stated that the country's 2004 attempt to charge three people criminally for collecting bets on behalf of a foreign bookmaker without police authorization was contrary to community law.

The blanket exclusion of companies from tender procedures for the award of licenses, the judgment stated, goes beyond the necessary means to prevent gambling operators from committing crimes.

Some gambling industry players are already hailing the ruling as a means to ending existing state-run gambling monopolies in European countries such as France and Germany.

Related Articles:

Italian Gov't Embroiled in Legal Dispute
Germany Considers Online Gambling Ban

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