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European Court turns down German gaming constraints
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8 September 2010
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German gambling restrictions breach European Union law, the EU's greatest court has ruled.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said German laws that protect state monopolies for gambling were "unjustifiable".

The judgment could open the way for foreign wagering business to establish an existence in Germany.

A lobby group representing gaming companies, including PartyGaming and Bwin, called the judgement a "landmark".

German authorities have validated wagering monopolies by stating that they help protect consumers from the negative impacts of betting.

But the ECJ said this promotion code was irregular with Germany's promo and "extensive marketing" of its betting operations.
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The court said: "The German rules on sporting bets make up a restriction on the liberty to bet9ja's welcome offer services and the liberty of facility.
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"The general public monopoly of the organisation of sporting bets and in Germany does not pursue the goal of combating the risks of gaming in a consistent and methodical manner."

Several foreign wagering companies, including 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 judgment which will have a decisive influence 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 consumers can be much better secured in a market that is both managed and open up to competition," it stated.

However, European Lotteries, a lobby group for nationwide lottos in 40 countries, disputed whether the ruling would open up the German market.

"On the contrary," the group stated in a statement, "the court reminded Germany that it needs to control more strictly the deal of unsafe types of gambling such as casino games and video gaming devices.

"The court pointed again to the higher threats related to web betting."
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EGBA

European Lotteries
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