European Gambling and Betting Association Challenges German BanThe European Gambling and Betting Association (EGBA) did not appreciate the fact that Germany has banned all forms of internet gambling. This includes any poker, casino and sportsbook gambling sites that are ran on the internet. The EGBA has made there first move by filling an official complaint with the European Commission. The complaint alleges that the German ban breaks the European Union Law on the free movement of services.

Germany’s ban has been intact since January 1st and the EGBA has appealed within 2 weeks. The EGBA believes with the new ban held in Germany, it restricts the actives of EU operators and challenges the Commission’s position under the notification procedure.

Here is what Norbert Teufelberger of the EGBA had to say, “Prohibition is not and has never been a solution, be it in our sector or other sectors. It is not a responsible approach and cannot be a substitute to an efficient gaming policy. Focusing on online gaming does not make sense when most recent peer-reviewed studies show that although online and offline gaming have different target audiences, players’ behavior is similar whether online or offline.”

The EGBA is ran by the likes of major online betting operators. The most well known ones include, Betfair, 888.com and Party Gaming.