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Hammersmith-based online betting exchange Betfair is going to war with the Dutch government in a test case to allow punters throughout Europe to access to its gambling markets.
Betfair, in common with most online betting operations, is banned from doing business in many countries, which refuse to grant them a licence.
However, a row in Holland has escalated after it emerged the Dutch Ministry of Justice sent private letters to banks in the country, instructing them not to process customer transactions with Betfair and other internet betting sites. Privately owned Betfair argues that contravenes the Treaty of Rome, which allows freedom of movement of services and capital throughout the European Union.
It is taking the Dutch government to court and has laid a formal complaint with the European Commission, alleging the ban on Betfair and others is a move to protect its state-run betting monopoly Delotto and is a "featherbedding" of the interests of the US online gambling house Scientific Games, which has a Dutch licence.
