Casino News

Newsweek questions online gambling enforcement

2007-01-02 15:07:57

Leading international publication Newsweek has highlighted the double standards that plague governments who attempt to impose unwieldy online gambling bans in a new article in the magazine.

Countries such as France and The Netherlands are prohibiting online gambling while at the same time allowing land-based gambling games to flourish. But, as the magazine confirms, the EU has stepped in to deal with such practices.

"In recent months the EU has launched proceedings against all these nations for protecting national monopolies in violation of EU laws guaranteeing free movement for goods and services," wrote Silvia Spring in her article entitled Morality vs Money.

With the continent's officials now stepping in, and a number of countries such as Italy and Britain now prepared to work with, and benefit from, online gaming, the tide appears to be turning against nations that favor prohibitive strategies.

"Even if they win the EU legal battle, on-land gambling probably can't stop the online threat, not in the long run," Ms Spring concluded.

Last month Italy announced that it was to auction off 17,000 new gambling licenses, including for the first time online venues such as casinos and poker rooms.


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