New draft legislation prepared by the Belgian Senate would allow the holders of terrestrial licences to apply for ‘licence+’ permissions to offer their services via the internet. The measures would also greatly enhance the power of the country’s Gaming Commission, and impose new limits on the number of licensed betting shops in the country.

France has decided to amend its legislation in order to allow European online gambling operators to offer their services in a regulated manner. This is a direct consequence of the infringement proceedings brought by the European Commission in June last year, of the ECJ rulings in Gambelli and Placanica, as well as of the landmark French Supreme Court decision in Zeturf.

As a result of judicial and legislative activism, gambling and gaming law is currently being overhauled by a draft bill which was expected to come into force in 2007.

Thibault Verbiest and Evelyn Heffermehl of ULYS analyse the EFTA Court's recent judgment on the case between Ladbrokes and the Norwegian government and place the decision within the broader context of European case law.