EU court to rule on Malta's Bill 55 in gambling judgment case on 19 November

The Court of Justice of the European Union will deliver its judgment in case C-683/24 on 19 November 2026, according to a statement from CLLB Rechtsanwälte. The case concerns whether Malta may refuse recognition of foreign judgments under its national rule known as Bill 55. The reference comes from Vienna's commercial court, the Handelsgericht Wien.

Malta introduced Bill 55 in 2023. It concerns the recognition and enforcement of certain foreign court decisions against gambling operators licensed in Malta. In simplified terms, Maltese courts are not to recognise foreign judgments connected with online gambling. In Germany, online gambling, including online sports betting, is prohibited without a licence valid in Germany, and players can seek repayment of losses from prohibited online gambling. CLLB Rechtsanwälte said it has obtained repayment claims for numerous players at various regional and higher regional courts in Germany, but enforcement against operators based in Malta is often difficult because of Bill 55.

Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou set out his opinion on 23 April 2026. He considered the preliminary reference from the Handelsgericht Wien primarily inadmissible because the underlying proceedings concern the liability of a lawyer. In the alternative, he stated that he considers the Maltese special rule incompatible with EU law, and said Malta cannot readily rely on the ordre-public reservation to prevent recognition and enforcement of certain foreign judgments across the board. He also said a licence issued in Malta is not sufficient to offer online gambling throughout the EU. Advocate General opinions are not binding on the court.

Thomas Sittner, a lawyer at CLLB Rechtsanwälte, said the fundamental question is whether Bill 55 is permissible under European law at all. He said an Advocate General's opinion provides a reasoned legal assessment that the court often follows. If the court finds Bill 55 incompatible with EU law, Sittner said, Malta could no longer rely on the special rule to prevent recognition and enforcement of German judgments. If the court follows the Advocate General and treats the reference as inadmissible, no final ruling on Bill 55's compatibility with EU law would be issued, and the question would have to be settled in another proceeding, such as the European Commission's infringement procedure against Malta.

Sittner advised players not to wait with their claims, saying repayment claims can become time-barred and that a final judgment would leave players well placed if the Bill 55 obstacle falls. He recommended that affected players secure account statements and game histories and have their claims reviewed early.