The Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) issued a press
release in view of the Maltese court of appeal’s decision in the case of Gie
Pari Mutuel Urbain (P.M.U.) against Zeturf Limited, a sports book holding a
Maltese gaming licence.
On the 8th July 2005 the judgment delivered by a French
tribunal and later confirmed by the Paris court of appeal on 4th January, 2006,
had ordered Zeturf Ltd to cease taking online bets on horse races organised in
France. Subsequently P.M.U. sought to have the judgment recognised and enforced
by the Maltese Courts, under the Council Regulation on the jurisdiction and the
recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (EC
44/2001).
On the 9th of January 2007 the Maltese court refused to
enforce a judgment by a French court. In turning down P.M.U.s request, the
Maltese court of appeal concluded that the matter was of administrative nature
and therefore falls outside the scope of the EC regulation. In spite of P.M.U.’s
claims to the contrary, the Maltese court concluded that P.M.U. is an entity of
an administrative nature that is singularly empowered to shape and enforce
French policy on relative gaming matters.
In its press release, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority
noted that the Maltese court’s decision strengthens Malta’s position with
regards to European remote gaming.
9/01/2007
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