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European Union Fights Online Gambling Restrictions

While online gambling in the US is experiencing increased restrictions due to new legislation, the European Union is combating restrictions to the liberty of action of commercial gambling operators induced by national gambling monopolies.

Many of the twenty-five EU nations have state-owned companies that dominate national markets, and although free movement across the EU is stipulated, restrictions are often imposed in the name of a general interest. This national gambling monopoly pattern recently came in focus with the French arrest of two Bwin executives.

The European Commission has announced that it will investigate France, Italy, and Austria to conclude whether they are restricting access to their online gambling and online sports betting markets by discriminatory practices. These investigations are added to those already being conducted against a number of other nations including Germany and the Netherlands.

While some EU member nations have restructured their regulatory rules to effectively give an oversight for online gambling, others have passed legislation that tends to cement the established discriminatory practices.

'I have made no secret of the fact that I intend to pursue these inquiries. I also have concerns about the legal uncertainty suffered by sport betting operators and related stakeholders' said EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy.

'How long must EU licensed and regulated operators endure legislation which deprives their executives of even the basic right to travel freely in the EU? We hope these new proceedings will put an end to the witch-hunts.' said Didier Dewyn, secretary general of the European Betting Association.