European Court declines German gaming limitations
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8 September 2010
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German gambling restrictions breach European Union law, the EU's greatest court has actually ruled.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) stated German laws that safeguard state monopolies for betting were "unjustifiable".

The judgment could open the method for foreign betting companies to develop an existence in Germany.

A lobby group representing gaming companies, consisting of PartyGaming and Bwin, called the judgement a "landmark".
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German authorities have actually justified betting monopolies by stating that they help protect customers from the unfavorable impacts of gaming.
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But the ECJ stated this was inconsistent with Germany's bet9ja promotion code yohaig and "extensive marketing" of its gambling operations.
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The court stated: "The German rules on sporting bets constitute a limitation on the freedom to provide services and the flexibility of facility.
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"The general public monopoly of the organisation of sporting bets and lottos in Germany does not pursue the goal of combating the dangers of gaming in a consistent and methodical way."

Several foreign betting companies, consisting of Britain's Happy Bet and Gibraltar's Digibet, brought a case against German regional authorities in Hesse and northern Schleswig-Holstein.

The European Gaming and Betting Association welcomed the ruling.
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"this promotion code is a landmark ruling which will have a effect on the much-needed reform in Germany," it stated in a declaration.

"Other member states have actually opened or are opening their markets. They show that customers can be much better safeguarded in a market that is both regulated and open to competition," it said.
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However, European Lotteries, a lobby group for national lotteries in 40 countries, disputed whether the ruling would open the German market.

"On the contrary," the group said in a statement, "the yohaig code court reminded Germany that it has to control more strictly the bet9ja's welcome offer of hazardous kinds of gambling such as casino games and video gaming makers.
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"The court pointed once again to the higher threats connected with web gambling."
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EGBA

European Lotteries