EU gambling decision supported by bwin

EU decision to continue its process against France and Sweden because of some gambling issues is supported by bwin. EU has issued "reasoned opinions", and these reasoned opinions represent the second stage in the process.

The countries that don't respect the demands of the European Commission might be taken before the European Court of Justice. Greece risks being confronted with infringement proceedings because its gaming market is not in compliance with the EU legislation.

Sweden's alcohol monopoly is considered in contravention with the EU legislation and its gaming monopoly can also cause problems. Norbert Teufelberger, bwin Co-CEO said he hopes that the regulation of the gaming market will soon be applied, now that the alcohol monopoly has been clarified.

France couldn't convince the Commission that its gambling monopoly isn’t in contravention with EU legislation, and France’s aggressiveness towards private gaming providers licensed in the EU is well known.

EU proved that the monopolies (alcohol, gaming, and so on) won’t be tolerated, by initiating infringement proceedings against Greece. bwin Co-CEO Manfred Bodner said that the Commission will be more pleased to process the infringement proceedings, since the Greeck government publicly listed that the OPAP company was free to maximize profits in the interests of shareholder value.

Austria also has gaming problems and it has to assure the Commission that they won’t discriminate foreign gamers and that they will modify their current gaming laws. The Commission will continue with its infringement proceedings and it will apply the second stage if Austria doesn’t solve these problems.

The Austrian government knows that the gaming monopoly is in contravention with the European law and that they will have to change it.