Stanleybet International (SBI) is campaigning for a regulated and competitive cross-border gaming market which operates according to the principles of the European Union. The company was established in 1997 and is the leading cross-border retail sports betting company in Europe, with over 1,400 outlets. SBI has a website: fairplayforsportsbetting.eu where the legal history of sportsbetting in Europe and latest news are clearly set out.

Last November two Stanleybet outlets in Greece were shut down by the Greek authorities within weeks of them opening. Last month the Athens court ruled provisionally that the shops must be allowed to open and SBI hopes that Greece will create a free, competitive and regulated betting market. The company intends to open more outlets in the country.

In November SBI also filed a formal complaint to the European Commission about the Italian tender process for the Superenalotto prize game, which by its terms virtually excluded operators other than the three main Italian lottery and betting operators. At the time John Whittaker, Managing Director of Stanleybet International, commented, “The Italian authorities have once again demonstrated a total disregard for EU law in relation to competition and public procurement rules. We will continue to defend our legally enshrined rights to offer our services and to denounce unjustified restrictions to those rights wherever they occur.”

He added, “Despite all its claims, Italy is still a long way away from being compliant with the EU Treaty. It should remedy the situation immediately. We call upon the European Commission to investigate the complaint speedily and to do all it can to resolve this inequity.” It is not only Italy that is a long way from being compliant with the EU Treaty. Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden all operate restricted markets.

Following European Court of Justice rulings in favour of sports betting companies (Gambelli 2003; Placanica 2007) the European Commission has launched a number of infringement proceedings against 10 Member States (Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden). However, the resolve or ability of the Commission to enforce compliance on national governments remains in question. (E-02.06.09)

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