In the iGaming world it sometimes feels like a lot can happen in the space of six hours, let alone in six years – that can almost seem like a lifetime. It makes it all the more remarkable that today marks the end to a legal dispute that has lasted that long for the gambling behemoth, Bwin.
September 2004 was the date that the monopoly operator West German Lottery Company (“Westlotto”) took out an injunction against the Austrian-based gambling group to prevent it operating. In 2006 the Regional Court of Cologne ruled against Bwin, which was then upheld a year later, but today the court overturned the earlier judgement on appeal.
Co-CEO Norbert Teufelberger used the news to comment on regulation in the German market, saying: “We welcome the judgement by the German Federal Supreme Court, and are glad that we will have to spend less of our time in courtrooms in the future. Now we can concentrate on developing modern regulations for online gaming in Germany.
“It is high time, and in the interests of all those involved, to prepare the way for the modern regulation of online gaming in Germany. We are optimistic that Germany will follow the example of other European states like Italy and France.”
After their latest (b)win it will continue to be full speed ahead towards the Pwin merger early next year.
