European Union Continues March Against Gambling Monopolies

The European Commission will this week officially censure France, Sweden and Greece over their protectionist policies to relating to gambling, the Online-Casinos website reported today.

Last year, the EC initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the Treaty on European Union against seven EU member states over concern their policies towards the gambling industry were protectionist in nature. The EU member states being investigated by the EC all had state-sponsored gambling monopolies whilst at the same time preventing privately-owned gambling companies from operating freely. This is a clear violation of EU rules governing the free movement of trades and services.

The EC has made their position abundantly clear: as an EU member state, you do not have to allow gambling in your country, but you cannot run a state gambling monopoly and prevent other European gambling companies from providing competition.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has already ruled in favor of a private bookmaking company operating in Italy without an Italian license. However, the men had a UK gambling license, and the ECJ ruled their prosecution by Italian police was not compatible with EU laws.

The ECJ could be where France, Sweden and Greece eventually end up if they ignore this week's European Commission warning. The Online-Casinos source said the EC will be given final warnings to Paris and Stockholm on Wednesday before taking them to the European Court of Justice.

The EC also has proceedings underway against Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy and Finland.

With the EC on the warpath against countries who appear willing to thumb their noses at EU free trade laws, state-sponsored gambling monopolies in Europe appear to have only a limited lifespan.

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