11-07-2007 Court of Cassation rules against French monopoly on horse racing betting

France’s highest appeal court handed down a precedent-setting ruling in the case between Pari Mutuel Urbain and Malta-based racebook Zeturf, overturning the 2006 decision of the Appeal Court of Paris, which established that the national monopoly PMU is the only organization allowed to take bets on French horse racing.

According to the French Court of Cassation, the monopoly on horse racing betting is illegal since it violates the article 49 of the EC treaty which guarantees the free movement of services in the European Union.