Mike Robb of BetFair attracts my attention on the Right2Bet mission statement:
Right2bet is an organisation comprising consumers from across the European Union who believe in a citizen’s right to choose. We’re a consumer-led campaign, initially funded by Betfair, which strongly believes that all EU citizens should benefit from the enhanced value, choice & innovation that an open market brings, be it in the gambling industry or any other. We welcome and encourage other individuals, organizations and companies to join our cause. If you’d like to do so please contact us at info@right2bet.net.
That answers my question, “Who is behind this org?“. My collateral question is, “Is Right-2Bet led by consumers or by BetFair?”.
Mike Robb says that the Right2Bet campaign is seeking support from both the other betting/gambling operators and the European consumers. My remark is that the Right2Bet campaign should try to establish a link with each of the betting freedom associations from each European state. The Right2Bet team targets the European Commission. I would also target each of the member state of the European Union.
And, please:
- no naked models (does not sound serious);
- no attacks on the European Union other than betting.
That said, best wishes to the Right2Bet campaign.
A case of throwing good money after bad. Ever since the European Court of Justice’s judgement in Placanica, the European betting companies have poured good money down the drain, attempting to lobby the European Commission ( I will not name names). They have also spent a fortune attending conferences, where they have been told by European Law betting experts that the European betting market was going to be liberalised.
On 8 September 2009 the European Court of Justice ruled in the case of “Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (CA/LPFP) and Baw International Ltd v Departamento de Jogos de Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.” (“Bwin Liga”). The ruling represented an unequivocal victory as regards the right of state monopolies to exist in the field of gambling, and, moreover, it strengthened the rights of said monopolists vis a vis online betting.
The ramifications from the European Court of Justice’s ruling in the case of “Bwin Liga” are now being felt, with Ladbrokes withdrawning its legal action against the Norwegian State concerning its recent application for a licence, after Norway said it would rely on “Bwin Liga” in its defence.
Anyone who is aware of these facts, would know that Right2Bet is a waste of both time and money. This will be confirmed further when the European Commission gets around to announcing its position (post – Bwin/Liga) vis a vis the actions that it is currently taking against a number of European States.
The game is up. The monopolists and the incumbent operators have won, and the European gambling industry now lacks any significant catalysts (hence Paddy Power’s recent decision to target Australia.)