Schleswig Holstein Delays German Gambling Vote

12/14/2012 : SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN DELAYS GERMAN TREATY VOTE
 
Vote on law to overturn liberal online gambling regime put off until next year
 
Perhaps concerned by the criticism of the European Commission on its draft proposals to abandon its own EC-approved online gambling laws in favour of re-joining the restrictive German Interstate Treaty, Schleswig Holstein lawmakers failed to hold a second reading on their new bill this week.
 
Earlier this month the European Commission published its opinion and voiced serious concern over whether the German gaming laws were compliant with EU rules and European Court of Justice findings.
 
Schleswig Holstein has continued to issue sports betting licenses under its existing law whilst the new legalization has been developed, creating more confusion and possibly future legal actions from displeased licensees. The German federal law restricts the number of german sports betting licenses throughout Germany.
 
This week marks the end of the Schleswig Holstein legislative season, which means that the earliest a vote can take place on the new Gambling Act is January 7 2013. In the meantime there are time limits and constraints associated with the European Commission's opinion, and the federal court in Germany is scheduled to pronounce on the legality of the federal German gambling legalization later in the month.