End of EU Online gambling as we know it...

[lots0]

In a reversal, the EU Court has said that individual countries can ban online gambling companies from outside their boarders.

The Eu court uses the argument that each country can ban online betting from companies outside their country, to stop fraud, while leaving their existing home based ground and online gambling legal.

IMO, This EU court ruling is an open invitation to all EU Countries to move to "Protect" their gambling operations while excluding competition from outside their boarders.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100603/...s_eu_ladbrokes

[vinylweatherman]

In a reversal, the EU Court has said that individual countries can ban online gambling companies from outside their boarders.

The Eu court uses the argument that each country can ban online betting from companies outside their country, to stop fraud, while leaving their existing home based ground and online gambling legal.

IMO, This EU court ruling is an open invitation to all EU Countries to move to "Protect" their gambling operations while excluding competition from outside their boarders.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100603/...s_eu_ladbrokes

If so, all the operators have to show is that prevention of fraud is as robust, or more so, than in the target market.

The problem has been compounded by the disappointing performance of licencing bodies, which would have made it easier for states to argue that only internal operators can be policed effectively enough to protect the player, and prevent fraud.

Whether it works is another matter. It took the US YEARS to find a way to suppress online gambling in a way that operators were driven out, yet there are STILL many that take wagers from the US, and new methods of deposit and withdrawal are popping up all the time.

Blocking transactions only works with the cooperation of the banks, so all that is needed is an account "offshore", that does not consider it illegal to process gambling transactions, AND will accept customers from ANY country.

Only those EU countries with state monopolies are likely to try a ban, other countries who want access to markets are going to ensure openness themselves. What MIGHT be considered though, is a ban on operators NOT within the EU, making for an EU wide internal protectionist policy. This might also exclude the big US names from operating within the EU on a US license if the US decides to regulate. This would be on a "tit for tat" basis, as has happened in the past as "revenge" for a trade dispute.

I don't see a problem with operators based in Costa Rica suddenly finding it illegal for them to offer services to EU players, serves most of them right, and the rest are honest enough to be able to move to a location within the EU.

[love2winalot]

Hiya: imhop, it has nothing to do with, "Freedom", and has everything to do with, "Whats in it for me". The only reason to allow online gambling in, "YOUR", country, and to restrict it from other countries is, MONEY. They want to keep the Money, in house, and not have it flowing out to someplace else, for free.

Frankly, I am surprised that there has not been trade/gambling agreements between countries yest? Players in Our country can Gamble Online at our Casino's, or those located in country XYZ, as long the reverse is also true.

[poker.face]

If this means that my casino winnings are 100% safe and I would have no problem with its security then I would not care much if there's money involve between them.

[lots0]

Only those EU countries with state monopolies are likely to try a ban, other countries who want access to markets are going to ensure openness themselves. What MIGHT be considered though, is a ban on operators NOT within the EU, making for an EU wide internal protectionist policy. This might also exclude the big US names from operating within the EU on a US license if the US decides to regulate. This would be on a "tit for tat" basis, as has happened in the past as "revenge" for a trade dispute.

I think you might also see EU countries with strong land based casino business go with a bann to try to protect their land based casinos.

A lot of these land based casino owners are like the guys that used to own news papers. So worried about protecting what they have, that they miss the big picture and all the money they could make with the www. These casino owners refuse to embrace the www and refuse to learn to make money a new way.

Brick and mortar casino owners around the world had better wake up and smell the coffee or they will end up like most news paper company owners all over the world... losing out and going broke because they reject a new and modern way of doing business.

[Antonia1953]

If US legalizes online gambling, there will most likely be an agreement with EU. They have been in bed together for a long time.

[Bencuri]

Very bad news. I it very upsetting my country wants to limit me on the internet. They want to make borders on the internet, too. "Stop at the country border!" It is upsetting....