EU Online Bingo Court Challenge Fails

by Hollie Sanders

Bwin, the Austrian online bingo and gaming giant has failed in its bid to have the German Federal Court of Justice overturn a ruling that disallows Bwin to offer sports betting and online gaming in Germany. But it appears that this is only the first round of the challenge.

The news of the outcome of the court case has also caused an 8% drop in Bwin shares, and bodes badly for UK online bingo and gambling operators who would also benefit by being able to offer bingo games to the German community.

Bwin had requested for a motion to suspend proceedings on enforcing the ban until such time as the ruling had been made final and the Federal Court of Justice rejected their motion on procedural ground.

Although the German market is not that large, certainly not by UK bingo playing standards, but the Bwin attempt is to try to ensure that restrictions are not implemented for EU and UK online bingo halls from operating in the country as it goes against the spirit of the EU community, as well as World Trade Organization policies for free trade between partner nations. Germany wishes to create a state-protected monopoly on gambling in their country.