European Court of Justice backs Germany’s power to prohibit Malta-based gambling services
The European Court of Justice ruled in a preliminary case involving German regulators, Maltese authorities and Lottoland divisions that EU law does not prevent member states from prohibiting online gambling services originating elsewhere in the Union. The case concerns a player’s claim for losses from 2019 to 2021; the ruling may affect other disputes, including cases involving Tipico in Germany and Virtual Services Digital Limited in Austria.
The ruling supports national restrictions on cross-border online gambling and may influence compensation disputes involving operators without local authorisation.