Teufelberger To Prepare Answer For Belgium

Tuesday November 13, 2012 : BWIN.PARTY CO-CEO TO PREPARE ANSWER FOR BELGIAN AUTHORITIES (Upate)
 
Substantiate company position on providing online gaming services without a Belgian Licence
 
Following the two-hour detainment and subsequent release of bwin.party digital entertainment co-chief executive officer Norbert Teufelberger by Belgian Authorities, Teufelberger reportedly has until December 17 to address questions posed by Belgian officials on the legality of its operations in the country.
 
Teufelberger was detained following his key note address at a networking lunch buffet at the European Gaming and Betting Association's (EGBA) annual Responsible Gaming Day held in Brussels, Belgium today).
 
No stranger to being detained by foreign authorities, Teufelberger experienced a similar situation in 2006 when French police detained him following a Monaco football club sponsorship function.
 
Peter Naessens, legal advisor to the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC), confirmed that questioning surrounded bwin.party's online gambling operations in Belgium deemed by the as illegal.  "We have repeatedly asked them to apply for a licence and they have refused to comply,” Naessens told FT.com.
 
bwin.party on the other hand vigorously opposes that view and is of the opinion that Belgian Law is not compliant with European Union Law which requires member states to open their gambling markets up to competition.