Finland Skating on Thin Ice - EC

There are a number of EU Member States that the European Commission has in its cross hairs over breaches of EU freedom of provision of services laws. Finland, one of the offending members are now making token gestures to try to appease the EC, but it may not be enough.

Finland, along with France, Germany, Spain and a few other EU members have tried to put laws in place banning all foreign online gambling operators from offering their product to that member's residents. Trouble is, where that EU member has a legally sanctioned locally licensed online gambling operation (national lottery etc) any such ban is a breach of EU law as it contravenes the four freedoms principle contained in the EU treaty.

And the European Commission has clearly signaled its intent to go after these breaches, launching infringement proceedings against offending EU Members.

The Finnish Government are now trying to appease the EC by announcing intentions to ban local operators from being allowed to advertise their product. A move they say will change the protectionist nature of current laws. But the move doesn't change the fact that locally licensed operators may offer their product to Fins, while foreign operators according to Finnish Law cannot. As one observer commented,

"This is sort of a way for Finland to show the Commission that they are trying to comply, but really, other gaming companies outside of Finland would still not be allowed to operate in the country."

Current Finnish laws have been challenged by UK based online gambling operator Ladbrokes.