Stanleybet calls for EC to take urgent action 18/12/2008

Joanne Christie

Stanleybet International has called on the European Commission to urgently address what they describe as “unlawful behaviour” by the Greek state in closing down two betting shops the company opened in October.

Within weeks of launching, the retail outlets, located in Athens and Thessaloniki, had been raided by police, who arrested intermediaries and customers.

“The way we and our customers have been treated is outrageous, violating all notions of proportionality and fairness,” said John Whittaker, managing director of Stanleybet International.  

In a round-up of the legal and political situation in Europe issued today, the company said it was “vital” that the EU took action to bring clarity to the situation, pointing out that last month marked the fifth anniversary of the landmark European Court Gambelli judgment, which held that a sports betting operator legally established in one Member State was able to offer its services in another.

“It is clear however from the continued actions of certain Members States that European law continues to be circumvented,” said Whittaker.

Stanleybet has also filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding the SuperEnalotto in Italy. The Italian state recently re-awarded the concession for the prize game to Sisal SpA until 2017, but Stanleybet claim the tendering process flouted competition and public procurement rules and excluded virtually all other EU operators.

A number of MEPs have also called on the EC to proceed with infringement proceedings against Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden and Greece. Danish MEP Karin Riis-Jorgensen tabled a written parliamentary question asking why the Commission was not “proceeding more rigorously” in taking action against countries that had had Reasoned Opinions issued against them some time ago yet were still not complying with the EU Treaty. A response is expected by the end of December.

Fellow Danish MEP Christel Schaldemose hosted a briefing with the European Parliament to discuss sports betting. The Sports Rights Owners Coalition, who campaign for funding from betting operators who make money from their events, supported the event.

Meanwhile, Stanleybet’s newsletter reported that there had been some developments in key European markets. In October, a symposium was held on the opening of the French gaming market, at which a member of the budget minister’s cabinet gave a timeframe of March 2009 for adoption by Parliament and said licences should be granted by the second semester of next year. Of concern however, was the lack of definition of casino games, as well as plans to require online companies to be established on French soil.

In Belgium, the situation is somewhat muddled by the fact that two separate teams of politicians have been working on plans to reform gaming law. A series of seminars is being held in the country to discuss future plans.

Stanleybet recently launched www.fairplayforsportsbetting.eu to campaign for equal access to European markets for sports betting operators. 

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Posted: 18/12/2008