Operators challenge Latvian gambling ban in court

[The Buzz]

Back in early April, online and land-based gambling was banned in Latvia as part of the country's emergency coronavirus bill.

Now, operators are fighting back.

Last week, the First Chamber of the Constitutional Court of Latvia opened a case from Enlabs, which says it was “deprived of the right to conduct commercial activities – to organise gambling in an interactive environment – and to earn income from it."

From Gamblingnews.com:

The implemented ban on its gaming license, Enlab points out, is in violation of Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. That article prohibits restrictions on the freedom of establishment of nationals from one member state on the territory of another member state, including restrictions on the opening of agencies, branches and subsidiaries regarding established undertakings in one member state by nationals of member states. Freedom of establishment implies the right to set up and manage undertakings, such as companies.

The complaint was followed in court by Novomatic-owned online operator Alfor Group, which says the suspension went against Article 105 of the Satversme, which refers to Latvia as an “independent and democratic republic.”

Read more here: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/la...legal-actions/