German states set to ban Internet gambling - paper

[FatTony]

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's federal states plan to ban Internet gambling, according to draft documents to be discussed by the country's state premiers on Wednesday, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Despite pressure from the European Commission to open up Europe's gambling market to competition, ministers from most states want to sign off on new rules aimed at protecting their lucrative monopoly as lottery operators, said Handelsblatt.

It also reported that the mainly private firms, such as Tipp24 and Fluxx, would be granted a one-year transition period.

The ministers will meet in Berlin on Wednesday morning.



The state of Saxony and two other states imposed a ban earlier this year on commercial betting. That was directed mainly at Austrian Internet betting firm bwin.com whose German unit is the country's biggest commercial bookmaker.

Bwin and its peers are facing increasingly stringent regulations in the United States and Europe, where governments are curbing Internet gambling to protect customers and state-run lotteries.

 

[AdamSelene]

where governments are curbing Internet gambling to protect <strike>customers and</strike> state-run lotteries.

 

[Woody0]

The difference between government organized gambling and the mob is the government doesn't send Vinny over to break your knee caps.

 

[AdamSelene]

The difference between government organized gambling and the mob is the government doesn't send Vinny over to break your knee caps.

And neither do Internet post-up shops, esp. public companies like BetWin.

Ban those, and all you will have left are knee-breakin' local bookies.


It's analogous to banning cocaine to protect the coke user. As if a reputable pharmacy wouldn't have a better product and less expensive product with lower risks than some guy on the street corner operating illegally. It is so obviously false; as is the underlying assumption that prohibition reduces demand. Supply is demand driven, supply will always exist.

 

[AdamSelene]

The difference between government organized gambling and the mob is the government doesn't send Vinny over to break your knee caps.

No, the government just sends over the tax man to break your balls and your wallet.

 

[WildBill]

Amazing stuff. To think I walked off the plane in Frankfurt and first thing I saw was a casino in the airport terminal itself. Walked by the stadium and first banner I noted was for betting. Went looking for a soft drink from a store and couldn't get one, but sure could get a lottery ticket. Yeah they really will cut down on the gambling with an internet ban.