IPPT20100603, CJEU, Sporting Exchange v Sporttotalisator

15-06-2010 Print this page
IPPT20100603

GAMES OF CHANCE – FREEDOM TO PRO-VIDE SERVICES

 

Prohibition on legitimate foreign operator from offering games of chance via the internet
• Therefore, the answer to the first question is that Article 49 EC must be interpreted as not precluding legislation of a Member State, such as the legislation at issue in the main proceedings, under which exclusive rights to organise and promote games of chance are conferred on a single operator, and which prohibits any other operator, including an operator established in another Member State, from offering via the internet services within the scope of that regime in the territory of the first Member State.

 

Obligation of transparancy applicable to granting of license
• the answer to the second and third questions is that Article 49 EC must be interpreted as meaning that the principle of equal treatment and the consequent obligation of transparency are applicable to procedures for the grant of a licence to a single operator or for the renewal thereof in the field of games of chance, in so far as the operator in question is not a public operator whose management is subject to direct State supervision or a private operator whose activities are subject to strict control by the public authorities.

 

IPPT20100603, CJEU, Sporting Exchange v Sporttotalisator