The European Commission said on Monday that it was prepared to target more
members states deemed to be stifling free competition in the sports gambling
sector. The move came after the arrest in France last week of two heads of
the Bwin internet gambling group over alleged contravention of French
gambling monopolies. The Austro-German gambling group announced on Saturday
that it would sue the French state for human rights restrictions and not
respecting European law. “We will perhaps add to the number of countries
involved in infringement procedures,” during a meeting of the European
Commission on October 18 dedicated to the topic, said the EU’s executive
arm’s internal markets spokesperson Oliver Drewes.

Practices examined

In April, the commission named seven member states whose practices it was
examining in the sports gambling sector; Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary,
Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden.

EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy wants to ensure that laws
in member states banning gambling services are “necessary and not
discriminatory”.

McCreevy has said that he is not seeking the unfettered liberalisation of
the market but “to be assured that the measures put in place by the member
states are fully compatible with community law”, on the freedom of services.

Since April the commission, which is also the EU’s top competition
regulator, has received several fresh complaints, some 50 in total plus 50
more potential cases, according to Drewes.