Online Gambling Growth in Europe and Australia

For many years, the European Union has been trying to decentralize and push online gambling among its members. Thus far, it has been successful. In 2010, we will see a rise in the number of EU members who have decided that legalizing online gambling is in their country’s best financial interest. France, Italy, and Denmark are among those who will become part of the decentralization process.

Another country that has sought to seek remedies to its current online gambling problem is Australia. Currently, there is no limit to the amount of money an Australian player can stake nor is it illegal to do so. However, implementing a policy that regulates online gambling in this country will make it even more attractive to new players.

Billions of dollars are spent every year via offshore online gambling casinos, and one way of “bringing home the bacon” is to legalize it so that every player in Australia can play in a safe and secure environment while, at the same time, the government receives revenues generated by their own online gambling sites.

Although there is a long way to go before all EU members become part of this global endeavor, many of them are addressing the online gambling issue along with the US.

However, there is always one exception. In a ruling by the European Court of Justice regarding Portugal’s right to fight fraud and crime perpetrated by unscrupulous gambling operators, it was ruled that Portugal did have the right to decline to open its online gambling industry based on the premise that online gambling should be honest, legitimate, and fair. The court also ruled that gambling operators must conform to the rules that apply within the jurisdiction where they are licensed. This seems reasonable enough.

It seems that the countries who are still debating the issue of legalized gambling may need a bit more prodding and reassurance from other EU members. The online gambling growth in Europe and Australia, notwithstanding, has proven this medium a successful and lucrative endeavor.