EC to Denmark: change your online gaming laws

THE EUROPEAN (EC) has given the Danish government a month to it amend its draft law to regulate online gaming and betting to bring it into accordance with EC law.

The Danish government now has until 9 November to respond to its detailed opinion against the proposal, during which time it cannot adopt the draft legislation, under threat of the Commission launching infringement proceedings.

The EC found a number of key provisions in the Danish government’s proposal to be in conflict with EC law.

These include a continued monopoly on inter alia pool beting for horse racing, the introduction of internet service provider and financial transactions blocking and a marketing ban, and a failure to take into account securities and controls already offered by other European Union (EU) jurisdictions.

European Gaming and Betting Association EGBA secretary general Sigrid Ligné said that the organisation supported the Danish government’s intention to move towards a regulated opening of the online gaming market, but that the liberalisation had to be in compliance with EC law.

Ligne said: “We welcome the European Commission´s continued resolve to ensure that all gaming and betting legislation in the EU complies with the core principles of the EC Treaty.”

The Danish draft law was originally submitted to the European Commission and the other EU Member States on 7 July 2009. The EC returned its detailed opinion yesterday.