Bwin Concerned About EU Court Ruling
Published: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
BWIN CONCERNED ABOUT EU COURT RULING
Austrian company's business model could be prejudiced by a negative judgement
Austrian newspapers have picked up on a press interview in which a top executive at online gambling operator Bwin claims that the public company's business model would become worthless if a forthcoming ruling by the European Court of Justice went against it.
The judgement, which is to rule whether European Union member states can prevent foreign gambling firms from operating fully in their countries, is due for delivery by the Court in the next few months. Last May, a recommendation by the Court’s Advocate General stated that if EU member states employed a protectionist policy, they would be breaking EU principles.
"In principle, the Advocate General's recommendation reassures us," Bwin Chief Executive Norbert Teufelberger told an Austrian newspaper. "If the European Court of Justice didn't follow suit, the effect would be that national lawmakers can do as they want, and then you've got to say that a business model such as Bwin's wouldn't make sense anymore," he added.
Bwin have first-hand experience of tough stances on online gambling firms. Earlier this year, Teufelberger and fellow chief executive Manfred Bodner, were arrested in France at a press conference as they prepared to introduce Bwin’s sponsorship of French football club Monaco. In France, gambling companies are not allowed to advertise unless they have a French gambling licence.
