EU-wide liberalisation of the gambling industry gets a jolt
As per the information available, the European Parliament by 544 votes against 36 supported a non-binding report into Internet betting by Danish Socialist MEP Christel Schaldemose.
Although the report calls on the European Commission to “carry out studies and make appropriate proposals,” it also puts forward the idea that EU member states could control individual national gambling markets instead of being compelled to adhere to a uniform code.
Online gambling provides increased opportunities for corrupt practices such as fraud, match-fixing, illegal betting cartels and money-laundering, as online games can be set up and dismantled very rapidly and as a result of the proliferation of offshore operators, according to the report.
An alternative report, supported by UK centre-right MEP Malcolm Harbour, argued that internal market rules should apply to gambling activities but was heavily defeated, reported theparliament.com.
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