Europe’s highest court, the European Union Court of Justice in Luxembourg, has ruled that European Union countries can ban online gambling if the intent is to combat fraud
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Reuters calls the decision “a blow to the multi-billion-dollar online betting industry that has been seeking to break domestic monopolies.”
The decision came in a case in which De Lotto, a Dutch non-profit foundation which offers games of chance, asked a Dutch court to stop Dutch residents from using the services of British bookmaker Ladbrokes, which is not licensed in the Netherlands.
The Dutch Supreme Court earlier ruled for De Lotto, and asked the Court of Justice to rule whether its decision conformed with European law.
Betfair also challenged the Supreme Court ruling.
(Harness Tracks of America)