EU Commission Interferes in Swedish Gambling Laws Now

Just weeks after heavily involving themselves in the Italian gambling laws row, the European Commission is at it again this week. Fresh news comes as the European Commission issues a harsh letter demanding changes to the Swedish gambling laws. The Swedes are joined in the dog-house this month by Germany and France, who have also both been the target of an EU witch hunt into gambling legislation.

The European Union and Commission have long had mind to establish a set of rules and one solid set of regulations, which should apply to all members of the union, regarding online gambling sites. The EU has spent vast amounts of time in the coming weeks, making moves against many union members’ laws when it comes to the application of these new rules. The issue in Sweden is thought to rely around their liberal use of online sportsbooks.

The Commission is also poking around in the affairs of Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, as well as Bulgaria, who are contemplating removing a blacklist of gambling sites that they themselves blocked.

The aggressive move by the EU is thought by many, to be a direct result of the challenge of mobile gaming. As mobile gaming and mobile casinos in particular, become more and more popular across the continent, the commission has taken a move to ensure that its new regulations will be abide by. Germany for instance, has not yet issued a single sports betting license to any operator, despite offering 20 licenses up for grabs. To the commission, it appears as though Germany may be having cold feet on offering sports betting licenses in its realm.

The issue with France concerns the lack of regulation in the market, whilst Sweden is in hot water after not being stringent enough on its sports betting licenses. The commission believes this is causing too many problem gamers, and they have threatened the country with sanctions, if they don’t alter their legislation.

Many are citing the European Commission as bullies, ruling over an empire with a hard fast. But as more and more countries attempt to twist and shirk away from the tough regulations set out by the EU, there are worries that this case could just be one more example of a Europe that is supposed to be united, but that will not play ball with the EU’s rules.

With mobile casino gaming on the rise so rapidly, it had better be sorted out soon, one would think!