Wednesday, October 11, 2006

France, Italy and Austria will this week be formally censured by the
European Commission for restrictive laws on gambling, the latest move in the
fierce global battle between governments and private sports betting and
gambling companies. The intervention will come as a rare glimmer of hope for
an industry seriously damaged by a series of regulatory blows, and from the
high-profile arrest of senior executives on both sides of the Atlantic. In
Europe, gambling operators have long complained of the obstacles they face
when trying to enter markets outside their home state - normally a
fundamental right for businesses in the EU.