The European Union has initiated punitive actions against Germany and Sweden for keeping online-gambling services from providing services to their citizens. Both countries have applied several measures in recent months with the purpose of banning online gambling companies, the reason given is that the governments have the right to protect state-run wagering monopolies. The European Union reminded these two countries that they have treaty obligations to comply and gave them two months to take follow the formal notice filed by the EU. If the countries don't have ways to prove that their laws are in accordance with EU treaty, then the files will be forwarded to the European Court of Justice.

The notice against Germany was carefully followed by online firms affected by the Interstate Treaty, which went into effect January 1^st. The measure prohibits all forms of online gambling and executes preventive bans on the processing of online payments.

The action against Sweden directly focuses on online poker; Sweden's poker offerings are highly restricted and run the national government, including the online poker room offered by the State, Svenska Spel. The EU affirms that the country cannot prohibit operators from offering poker services when the State promotes the game itself in favor of the national operators.

Online gambling companies are satisfied with European Union decision. General Sigrid Ligné, Secretary of The European Gambling and Betting Association representing several major online firms said  "By commencing these broad proceedings only thirty days after the Treaty entered into force, the Commission shows its determination to fight restrictions and in particular prohibitions, which are not backed by genuine consumer protection or public order interests. What happened in the US proved that prohibition cannot be the answer. Trustworthy and highly transparent online gaming companies abandoned the US market, thus paving the way for a grey market in which no guidelines whatsoever exist in terms of consumer protection, prevention of compulsive gaming and protection of minors."