ECJ judgment in Carmen Media case causes legal chaos in Germany
Article by Dr. Wulf Hambach commissioned for and published in European Gaming Lawyer magazine, Autumn issue 2010.
The ECJ’s judgments on the Carmen Media case on September 8 have plunged the German gambling market into legal chaos, as they found that Germany’s regulations did not limit games of chance in a consistent and systematic manner.
The press coverage of the decision was widespread in Germany. The media suggested that the “end of the German gambling monopoly” seems to be inevitable. Examples of headlines and statements of the German press and media were…
“The German monopoly on lotteries and sports betting and other games of chances is inapplicable with immediate effect.” (Tagesspiegel, September 8, 2010).
“Sport betting is now allowed in Germany.” (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, September 9, 2010).
“The European Court of Justice stops the hypocrisy.” (Die Welt, September 9, 2010). “The Germany monopoly on gambling is illegitimate and – even transitionally – not applicable.” (Tagesspiegel, September 9, 2010).