The European Commission is not satisfied with the Dutch government's defence
of its policy regarding sports betting. The Commission is asking The Hague
today for more information, sources in Brussels told the Financieele
Dagblad. The restrictive gambling policy in the Netherlands gives the Lotto
company exclusive permission to run sports betting. European Commissioner
for the Internal Market Charlie McCreevy already demanded clarification on
this arrangement in April 2006. He wants to know whether it is compatible
with the EU's freedom of establishment and services. McCreevy said last year
he did not have plans to liberalise the gambling market. "I don't
underestimate the sensitivities that exist in many member states on the
question of gambling," he said. But he does want every EU member to observe
EU regulations. The commissioner's efforts are in response to complaints
from betting companies. He is also critical about restrictions on the
betting markets in Germany, Finland, Hungary, Italy Sweden, Denmark, Austria
and France. Germany is taking the debate on gambling policy very seriously.
The country's Supreme Court has ruled that the gambling policy maintained by
the separate German states is in violation of EU regulations. The states
have been given until the end of 2007 to make the necessary changes.