Online gamblers in the EU can seek redress in their country of residence, even when the companies offering the games reside elsewhere, the bloc’s top court ruled on Thursday.
The case was brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union by Austria’s highest court.
A man there initiated proceedings against two directors of Maltese online games provider Titanium Brace Marketing to recover losses he incurred because of online gambling.
Titanium, currently in liquidation, held a gambling licence in Malta, but did not hold any licence in Austria so that the Austrian argued that the gambling contract was null and void.
The Court of Justice found in the case before it, a player may rely on the law of the country of residence, it said in a press release.
“The damage sustained by the player is deemed to have occurred in the country in which that player resides… according to the general rule, Austrian law would be applicable” in the present case, the statement added.
Oliver Peschel, an Austrian lawyer who specialises in gambling rights and who represents the Austrian man, said the court’s decision would allow hundreds of claims in Austria alone to go ahead.
“It is a Europe-wide problem — these illegal casinos destroying existences,” Peschel told AFP.
He said his client, 37, was seeking redress over the loss of some 20,000 euros ($23,000) in online gambling.
Online gambling rakes in tens of billions of euros in revenue in Europe, according to the European Gaming and Betting Association.
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