Europe is peculiar in the way it runs international law within the continent. Of course, Europe is comprised of many countries. All of the countries are sovereign and have their own set of laws. However, many of them also belong to the European Union. The European Union was set up to help bolster free trade within Europe and promote peace. The European Union tries to set up guidelines for member nations that would be close to what the states in the United States enjoy. Some of this works and some of it doesn’t. It just depends on the mood of each nation. Online gambling is always at the forefront of these discussions.
Most of the member nations of the European Union adhere to the free trade policies and allow online casino and gambling companies to operate throughout Europe. However, there are a few nations that only support state run monopolies when it comes to gambling. They claim this is the best way to protect their citizens. Gambling rights groups feel this is blocking free trade and actually putting the European gambler at risk. This also comes into play when it comes to sports advertising and sponsorship. Online gambling companies have become one of the biggest sponsors in the European sporting community. Online gambling companies sponsor twenty soccer clubs in the five most popular leagues.
The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg is scheduled to rule on September 8 on a case which could see major changes in Germany. Germany is one of the European Union member nations that supports state run monopolies. If the ruling by the ECJ goes in favor of liberalization than the sporting market could open up to online gambling sponsors.
It is difficult to tell how the European Court of Justice will rule. Law professor Gebhard Rehm stated, “The state treaty is in my opinion not in conformity with European law.” He slyly added though, “…you never know what the German government has tried to do behind the scenes in order to have that accepted in Luxembourg.” It could be an interesting ruling by the ECJ.
