The EU Commission Finally Restarts Infringement Proceedings The EU Commission Finally Restarts Infringement Proceedings
Key Takeaways
  • The European Commission has finally started to act on the issue of member state compliance with EU treaties regarding their national gambling laws.
  • Sweden has been told to comply with EU rules on the free movement of services with regard to the regulation and supervision of its gambling monopoly.
  • Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Romania have been sent requests for more information on their gambling laws.
  • The Commission concluded that Finland’s new laws provided the framework “to ensure that the activity of the monopoly is limited to a policy of controlled expansion in the betting and gaming sector.”

The Commission stated bluntly that Swedish laws for its monopoly providers do not comply with EU internal market rules. After a long hiatus, the European Commission has finally started to act on the issue of member state compliance with EU treaties regarding their national gambling laws. It has “[requested] Member States comply with EU law when regulating gambling services,” according to Wednesday’s press release.