The market for games of chance in a European context

Games of chance are an economic activity that falls under the Treaty of Rome. The European Commission has recognised, however, that due to socio-cultural differences between the member states, the national governments have sovereignty in setting the rules for their domestic markets. The tension between the European and national law is particularly problematic for Germany, especially since the definition of "games of chance" is more extensive at the European level than in Germany, including two areas that in Germany are regulated in a completely different way. A change in the legal situation or also in the rulings of the European Court of Law could lead to changes in the structure of the gaming market within a short period of time.