16 April 2008

Sports betting: new referral to the European Court of Justice

Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal Judicial da Comarca do Porto (Portugal) lodged on 13 February 2008 -
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa v Liga Portuguesa de Fuetbol Profissional (CA/LPFP), Baw International Ltd e Betandwin.Com Interactive Entertainment


(Case C-55/08)

Referring court

Tribunal Judicial da Comarca do Porto (Portugal)

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa

Defendants: Liga Portuguesa de Fuetbol Profissional (CA/LPFP), Baw International Ltd and Betandwin.Com Interactive Entertainment

Questions referred

1. Is the fact that the State reserves to itself the 'right to run games of luck or chance' (Article 9 of DL 422/89 of 2 December, amended by DL 10/95 of 19 January 1995 and by DL 40/2005 of 17 February 2005) and the right to 'organise pool betting systems' (Article 1 of DL 84/85 of 17 December 1985, amended by DL 317/2002) compatible with the rules of Community law ... laying down the principles of the freedom to provide services, free competition and prohibition of State monopolies?

2. What criteria should guide interpretation of national legislation restricting those principles, for the purposes of determining whether such restriction is admissible in light of the rules of Community law ...?

3. Is the prohibition of advertising games of luck and chance when forming the substantive content of the message, having regard to the exception relating to the advertising of games organised by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, compatible with the rules of Community law ... laying down the principles of the freedom to provide services, free competition and prohibition of State monopolies?

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