Betting firm lays down legal challenge to Dutch government
Posted by Gavin Smith on 08 May 2009 at 10:05
A London-based internet betting company is taking the Dutch government to court as it battles to ensure customers across the continent get access to its markets.
Betfair, based in Hammersmith, cannot operate in many nations which refuse to grant the firm a licence.
The Evening Standard reports the company is taking the Dutch government to court after the Dutch ministry of justice started sending letters to banks in Holland, telling them not to process consumer transactions with Betfair and other online gambling companies.
Betfair, which is privately owned, is saying that this contravenes the Treaty of Rome, which upholds freedom of movement of services and capital throughout the EU.
Having lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission, the company is saying the ban is actually designed to safeguard the state-run betting monopoly Delotto. It also accused the ban of guarding the interests of an American firm, Scientific Games, which has been given a licence in Holland.
