The European Union (EU) was originally created to assist economic trade and development amongst member nations.

The EU requires a balanced competitive environment, with members handling each other’s commerce as their own without discrimination. Recently however, much stipulation has come up against Spain’s new gaming laws and their inconstancy with these requirements.

Currently in Spain, players who win money through lotteries and games of chance that are offered by Spanish-based companies are not required to pay any tax on their winnings. On the contrary, players who win money through foreign-based lotteries and games of chance must pay taxes on their winnings.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that this practice unjustly discriminates against foreign operators, and that companies based overseas should be given the same privileges.

Now Spain must reassess its gambling laws or risk infringement charges from the European Court.

Miss B says: I am not surprised by this news. Many EU member countries have found difficult to regulate online gambling in matters consistent with the European Treaty. France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are all under investigation for applying inconsistent rules to the requirements stated by the EU.