The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

EC calls time on internet betting bans

First step of investigation

Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery

The European Commission (EC) is making official requests for information to Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden as to why they are restricting access to internet betting services. This is the first stage to a full investigation or "infringement procedure".

All the named countries restrict internet betting and the EC is concerned that the measures may break EC law on the free movement of services.

The seven countries have two months to respond.

The inquiry follows complaints from a number of operators and an initial EC fact finding mission.

The statement says that any restriction on services which seeks to protect consumers must be "consistent and systematic" in how it limits betting. So a member state may not ban online betting while promoting a national lottery or state-backed bookies.

Read the EC press release here. ®

What you need to know about cloud backup

More from The Register

 breaking news
BBC-featured call centre slapped with hefty fine for unwanted calls
PPI pests: Swansea-based firm stung for £225k by ICO
Microsoft to open Windows Stores inside 600 Best Buy locations
Product showcases 'must be seen to be believed'
 breaking news
What did the Lehman Brothers implosion look like to a techie?
Insider tells all about the Gnab Gib at Lehmans
 breaking news
 breaking news
The only Waze is Google: Ad giant tipped to gobble map app 'for $1.3bn'
Pac-Man-satnav-ish upstart in bidding war with Apple, Facebook
 breaking news
1-in-10 e-tomes 'are self-published'... most are 'rubbish' says book ed
Publishing man scoffs at go-it-alone writers, ursines still fouling in forests
 breaking news
Facebook RSS reader said to uncloak June 20
Secret event scooped by Scottish developer?
 breaking news
O2 averts strike action over mass Capita outsourcing deal
Details of new agreement not yet released