Bwin has a win in Germany

Today Germany’s Federal Supreme Court found in favour of Bwin in a long running dispute against state owned lottery/gambling service provider Westdeutsche Lotterie (“Westlotto”).

About 5 years ago Westlotto sought an injunction from German courts to prevent Bwin from accepting local players.  The basis for the injunction were German laws that uphold the right of monopoly operators to market to the exclusion of foreign betting services.  And according to the first court that heard the case an injunction was appropriate.

Bwin of course appealed and now Germany’s highest court has ruled that Westlotto cannot obtain injunctive relief against operators like Bwin.

Perhaps  recent ECJ decisions related to protectionist I-gaming laws in Germany and Austria are starting to to have an effect on local courts?

Either way, Bwin are understandably happy about the development.  CEO Norbert Teufelberger said of the decision:

“We welcome the judgement by the German Federal Supreme Court, and are glad that we will have to spend less of our time in courtrooms in the future. Now we can concentrate on developing modern regulations for online gaming in Germany.”