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Casinos> 2007
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Bwin Wins Another Online Gambling Issue
Austrian injunction set aside
Bwin has won another legal hand in an online gambling dispute in
which Omnia Communication-Centers GmbH sought an injunction to curtail
the betting group's Austrian activities.
The Vienna Commercial Court this week rejected the injunction,
which sought to prevent the bwin Group from offering games of chance
– and in particular poker and casino games – on the
Austrian market under its Gibraltarian licence. The court rejected
the application on the grounds that there was no competition between
the plaintiff and bwin.
"We welcome today’s decision by the court to reject
this application for a preliminary injunction,", commented
Co-CEO Norbert Teufelberger on learning of the positive outcome
of these proceedings.
"Legal action is not the right solution,", added Co-CEO
Manfred Bodner. "We are in favour of a constructive dialogue
to regulate the gaming market not only in the best interests of
the consumer, but also in conformity with EU legislation and taking
into account the realities of the internet age."
The Vienna listed gaming firm has had a busy week, obtaining shareholder
permission for a capital rise of up to 16.3 million new shares in
order to generate over Euro 500 million at its AGM. Boerse Express
speculation is that the capital increase will be used to fund the
purchase of UK-based competitor Sportingbet.
Earlier this week (see previous InfoPowa report) Bwin scored another
online gambling victory when a Munich court threw out an attempt
by the German state of Bavarian to prevent Bwin and other firms
from marketing their services in competition with official state-supported
outlets. The court found that it was not technically possible for
Bwin and like online companies to screen out Bavarian gamblers.
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