German anti-online gambling law to stay until 2011

The European Commission and lawyers for some of Europe’s biggest online gaming companies are going to be busy dealing with the recent German national decision to virtually ban online gambling in the country until 2011.

Sixteen states in Germany voted at the end of last year to maintain state-run monopolies which will restrict private online gaming companies from operating in Germany.  The move effectively flies in the face of European Union (EU) efforts to create free markets between EU member states.

Online bingo halls and operators of online bingo games will be amongst those unable to tap the growing German online bingo market.

The European Commission (EC) has already labeled the move as disproportionate and are encouraging the states to reconsider their new regulations.  This inevitably means the EC could take measures against Germany which could see the country brought before the European Court of Justice.