| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | German Court Supports Online Gambling Ban
- Monday, 1 Jan 2007
A German online gambling firm believed that a legal ban against the online gambling industry that one of the 16th German states decided to enforce was in fact illegal and it turned to Germany's highest court for a ruling. The decision of the court could have been better, as Germany's highest court ruled against the online gambling firm and showed it support for the jurisdiction of the state, and its ban over online gambling. Although the general approach in Europe is changing in favor of the industry, there is still a long way to go.
The online gambling firm said that a law from 1990 permits online gambling, and that the state is working against the previous law. The mentioned legislation refers to sports betting in general, and does not refer to online casino gambling; as such platforms did not exist back in 1990. Germany's court dismissed the claims, and regarded the law from Communist Germany as irrelevant. Not only that, but the court said that no 'disadvantage' was caused to the firm in light of the law, and that the state has the power to decide regarding its own citizens.
The online gambling industry in Germany was not pleased by the court's ruling, and said that another try will be made next year. As the mood in Europe changes, perhaps in one year from now, the court will see things differently. Italy has recently announced the support of a nation gambling program, and the United Kingdom is already working online gambling regulations, it's a matter of time until the rest of Europe sees the potential. | |
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