European internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy launched a round of legal challenges in Denmark, Finland and Hungary yesterday in a renewed drive to open the sports betting market to competition.
He also confirmed that the European Commission was continuing investigations into the sports betting markets in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy to ensure a level playing field for firms.
A wave of EU legal actions started last April over allegations of barriers to companies wanting to get into the lucrative sports betting market, which includes horse racing and soccer.
The commission's move yesterday represents a final warning to Denmark, Finland and Hungary before it takes them to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). If the states do not change their behaviour, the ECJ can levy fines.
"The commission considers that the restrictions in question are not compatible with existing EU law and that the measures taken by these member states to restrict the free movement of sports betting services have not been shown to be necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory," the commission said in a legal notice published yesterday.
Earlier this month, the ECJ ruled that Italy was too restrictive in the way it prevents gambling firms based elsewhere in the EU from taking bets.
Many EU countries have state-owned betting monopolies that can hamper foreign firms from entering their markets. In a previous ruling, the court said restrictions to protect consumers must be "consistent and systematic".
Meanwhile, Mr McCreevy dismissed criticism by journalists over his decision to skip an important commission meeting in favour of Cheltenham last week.
Following a meeting at the European Parliament this week, he told journalists he had been going to Cheltenham for more than 30 years and he intended to go there for the rest of his life. "Some people go on skiing holidays; I go to the races," he said.
Last Tuesday, while he was at Cheltenham, an important decision on harmonising diesel taxation was made at the weekly meeting of commissioners. - ( Additional reporting: Reuters)
