Betfair is preparing to battle with Germany's federal states over plans to open the betting market in the country, according to a report in the Financial Times.
The company filed a complaint with the European Commission last week in the hope Brussels will force the regional governments to broaden changes to their state betting monopoly.
According to the Financial Times, the complaint states that plans to grant commercial groups only seven sports betting licences - and only under strict guidelines - are “protectionist” as they would “solidify the existing monopoly” of the states.
Commercial gaming companies received a boost recently when the commission gave its blessing to more liberal betting rules proposed by the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein.
