THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF GAMBLING IN THE EU

Osrednja tema diplomske naloge je pravna ureditev oziroma pravni okvir organiziranja iger na srečo v okviru Evropske unije in problematika čezmejnega vpliva le-teh ter vpliv prava EU na potrebno uskladitev nacionalne zakonodaje iger na srečo v Republiki Sloveniji s pravom EU. Raznolikost nacionalnih ureditev področja iger na srečo kaže na to, da bo morebitna harmonizacija področja iger na srečo vse prej kot enostavno delo. Marsikje se za na videz transparentnimi in legitimnimi razlogi omejitev skrivajo na prvi pogled prikriti in brez dvoma diskriminatorni razlogi. To nam potrjuje tudi sodna praksa Sodišča EU s področja iger na srečo, ki je kljub temu, da je pravni sistem EU sorazmerno mlad, dokaj obsežna. Sodna praksa Sodišča EU nam omogoča, da ugotovimo in postavimo meje, preko katerih pa kljub temu, da področje ni harmonizirano, ne gre. Sodna praksa je kot skupno vodilo izpostavila nediskriminatornost, sorazmernost in ustreznost omejitvenih ukrepov. Prav gotovo je z vidika negativnih posledic najbolj problematično internetno igranje iger na srečo. Ta omogoča nenadzorovano igranje od doma, zato je igre na srečo potrebno učinkovito nadzorovati s predpisanimi ukrepi na področju vseh držav članic EU. Čeprav področje prirejanja iger na srečo ni predmet harmonizacije, pa to še ne pomeni, da so nacionalni predpisi tega področja izvzeti iz pravnega reda EU. Vsak načrtovani predpis oziroma zakonski ali podzakonski akt je ravno tako kot vsak tehnični predpis še v fazi osnutka podvržen notifikacijskemu postopku v skladu z Direktivo EU o postopku obveščanja na področju tehničnih standardov in tehničnih predpisov t.i. informacijsko direktivo. Prav gotovo bo nacionalna zakonodaja na področju sistema koncesij za prirejanje iger na srečo predmet usklajevanja s stališči, ki jih odraža sodna praksa Sodišča EU.The main subject of this research is regulation and legal framework of gaming in the European Union and cross-border impact of gaming and on the other side impact of EU legislation on national legislation in Republic of Slovenia as well as need to harmonize it with EU legislation. The diversity of national regulation of gambling suggests that the eventual harmonization of the gambling is far from easy work. In many cases, the appearance of transparent and legitimate reasons covers the restrictions and discriminatory reasons without any doubt. This is confirmed by the EU Court of Justice in the field of games of chance, despite the fact, that the EU legal system is relatively young, case law is relatively extensive. EU Court case law allows us to identify and place limits which even though that area is not harmonized, we cannot ignore. Case law highlights as a common goal non-discrimination, proportionality and appropriateness of restrictive measures. Certainly, in view of the negative consequences the most problematic is Internet gambling. Internet gambling allows the uncontrolled play from home, so it’s necessary to be effectively controlled with the prescribed measures in all EU Member States. Although the games of chance are not the subject of harmonization, it does not mean that national legislation in this area is excluded from the EU acquis. Any planned regulation or legal or regulatory act just like any technical rules in draft form needs to be notified in accordance with EU Directive on the notification procedure in the field of technical standards and regulations (so-called Information directive). Certainly the national legislation will be a matter of compliance with the views expressed by the case-law of EU Court of Justice in the field of gaming concessions and so the system of awarding concessions must be in accordance with the EU law