The Union of the member states in Europe seems to have just a little bit of trouble agreeing on the legality of online gambling within it's diversity of nations.
A recent opinion voiced by the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, Paulo Mengozzi, has cast an air of uncertainty over the ongoing process of making online gambling fair and available to member countries. In a number of incidences regarding the issue the Advocate General has pointed out some of the legal difficulties that have emerged as the introduction of web technology becomes more important to business. Mr. Mengozzi has noted that the challenge to harmonize regulations has become very difficult in the face of national traditions and entrenched gambling laws. Referring to the ban on certain games of chance by some legislation created by some member nations the Advocate General does support the loophole under certain justified restrictions and conditions. This message that Mengozzi purports has sent a shudder of unease throughout the regulated and licenced European facing online gambling industry. The European Court has in the past openly accepted, under certain conditions of course, monopolies and other restrictions on operators in internet gambling industry. The Advocate General’s opinion is not binding on the Court of Justice all though it does carry a great deal of weight. This is a very difficult issue to debate with member nations facing a lot of questions and unevenness in the process. In the absence of a clear and established rule on the legality of freedom of services legislation in the E.U. the gaming sector is left to carry on with no certainty that their enterprises won't be shut out or discriminated against in member countries. The longer the debate goes on the more precedents are being set and the more complicated a solution becomes.
