|
September
French curbs on gambling face challenge
Sep 19, 2006
France was likely to face a legal challenge from the European Commission
over its restrictions on gambling operators, Brussels said on Tuesday,
warning it could target Paris as early as next month in a broader
sweep against national governments.
The threat was made following last week's arrest in France of two
senior executives of Bwin, an Austrian online sports betting operator.
The French authorities claim Bwin has violated French gaming law,
which bans private sports betting businesses from operating in the
country.
Under EU law, governments have the right to place restrictions on
gambling and sports betting operators, but they must be "non-discriminatory,
proportionate and consistent". Mr. McCreevy's spokesman said:
"It is not acceptable to limit the freedom to provide betting
services on account of protecting consumers and at the same time
allow mono-poly holders to advertise betting services."
Bwin said it expected a decision by the end of the year on whether
Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger, the two Bwin executives,
would face criminal charges. It has been instructed by the French
investigating magistrate to put a notice on its website informing
visitors in the next few weeks that online betting could be in breach
of French gaming laws.
The company is also under pressure in Germany, its biggest market,
where authorities are trying to revoke its gambling license.
Source Code: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com
|
