Following the detention and two hour questioning of Norbert Teufelberger by the Belgian Gambling Commission last Tuesday the online industry waited a while before protesting against this action in order to give a combined and considered response to the intimidation.
Chief Executive of Victor Chandler International, Michael Carlton, wrote a letter to the Financial Times on behalf of himself and several top executives and owners of top online gaming firms operating in Europe. The companies were Winamax, Stan James, Sportingbet, Betsson, 32Red, bet365, Betclic Everest Group, Gamesys, 888 Holdings, bwin.party digital entertainment and William Hill with one of the high profile signatories to the letter being Denise Coates of bet365 who was on Her Majesty’s honor list a few months ago.
According to the letter Teufelberger’s detention occurred a short way from where Michel Barnier, the European Commissioner for internal market and services operates from. This shows the legal uncertainty that prevails in the European online gaming market. The letter also points out that despite the fact that the European Commission raised concerns about the domestic gambling laws way back in 2009, the Belgian authorities maintained a total silence but now felt free to intimidate the online gaming groups that challenged their domestic gambling laws.
The letter targeted the European Commission saying that when Commissioner Barnier assumed office fresh hope was raised in the online gambling industry. Barnier had assured that his office would launch appropriate proceedings if blatant infringements persisted. The leaders of the online gambling companies have now requested that Barnier deliver on his promise as the time for police rhetoric is over and it is time for deeds and not words.
