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Common misconceptions of the EU: why sports betting is thriving in Europe

28 July 2022, 18:26 CET

When it comes to the EU, people tend to get very opinionated. You are either for the EU or against it. This has created many misconceptions. Perhaps one of the most common misconceptions of the EU is that its legislations are sometimes restricting businesses, making it difficult for business owners to succeed.

Footballers warming up - Image on Unsplash

The EU wants to further trading across the European borders, but not all countries are the same. In order for collaborations between EU countries to run smoothly, some common rules are implemented, ensuring that the consumers in each member country are protected under the same rights. However, this has led some people to believe that the EU is restricting the sports betting and gambling industry. Here are a few misconceptions about the sport betting industry in the European Union.

Sports betting is illegal in the EU

In America, the sports betting and gambling industry is currently thriving, spreading from state to state and generating billions of dollars in revenue. Betting has become so popular in America, that it has spread to every corner of the sporting world, including college football. See how you can make college football picks against the spread and other types of betting. The sports betting industry seems to be growing more quickly in the US, leading some people to assume that the EU is against sports betting. This is a strong misconception.

The EU does not meddle in the internal affairs of its members when it comes to gambling and sports betting. The EU has no legislation on gambling, leaving it up to each country to create their own rules. Most European countries have legalized sports betting. In fact, sports betting and gambling has been legal in Europe for far longer than it has in America.

Sports betting is the same in every EU country

Although sports betting is legal, there are of course some common guidelines a EU business needs to live up to. This, however, does not mean that every sportsbook works similarly in every EU country. The only EU rules sportsbooks in Europe have to comply with are the fundamental freedoms established under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This leaves it up to the European countries to decide in which way they want to legislate sports betting. Some countries, for example, allow games of chance while others don't.

If you are like most Europeans, you have opinions about the EU. Join a forum and take part in the discussion of EU legislations and the sports betting industry.

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