The Baltic state of Lithuania will have to wait until August 7 to discover whether the European Commission has approved its online gambling regulations, which have prompted questions regarding certain elements that raise compliance issues with EU principles.
These elements mimic regulations implemented by other EU nations – Belgium for one – which the EC has challenged, and include provisions such as requiring licensees to be operators of established Lithuanian land casinos; located and registered within Lithuanian borders, and able to prove minimum share capital of Euro 1.1 million.
The Commission has already issued infringement proceedings on the EU member despite its arguments in attempting to justify its restrictive regulations.