Tag: CJEU

A forthcoming Court of Justice ruling in Case C-198/24, TQ v. Mr Green Limited, could become a defining moment for cross-border player restitution in Europe. The case sits at the intersection of illegal gambling, asset-freezing under the European Account Preservation Order regime, and Malta's attempt to shield locally licensed operators from foreign judgments through Article 56A of its Gaming Act.

In a major blow to Malta-licensed online casinos, the CJEU held that Member States may prohibit certain online gambling services despite foreign EU licences and may attach civil-law consequences, including void contracts and player restitution claims.

The CJEU has made one point clear in Wunner (C-77/24): when an online casino targets players without the licence required in their country, the legal consequences do not automatically remain offshore. The player’s home country matters, the player’s law matters, and directors may face personal tort exposure under that law.

A fresh opinion from the Court of Justice of the EU could materially shift the scam-loss battlefield across Europe....