A lot has been going on in the European gambling industry as of late. Following a ECJ ruling earlier this month that said Italy acted beyond its authorization in arresting three men collecting online wages on behalf of UK-based Stanley Leisure, as well as a recent drafting of a new state treaty on gambling in Germany, eager ears have been awaiting word on what the future holds for international and European gambling.

Stepping up to the plate to assess the situation was the management consultant team, MECN Research, who just announced they have completed a comprehensive study on the German lottery and gambling sectors. The overall assessment is that the gambling industry as a whole is counting on a liberalisation of the German betting market and an amendment to the state treaty.

Upon surveying many experts in the casino gaming, online gambling and terrestrial gambling fields, MECN Research was able to surmise several key trends of thought, including views on the online poker industry, gaming liberalisation, treaty amendment, and gambling advertising.

Experts agree that online poker sites doing business in Germany have the greatest potential for growth in the German betting industry. As for liberalisation, most gaming experts agree that with a current state treaty set to expire in 2011, the casino and gambling market in Germany will be liberalized, albeit not every gambling sector will receive the same degree of liberalisation. Over 75% of those surveyed say they feel it is very likely the current state treaty on gambling will be amended, with a great likelihood that online lottery retailers will be permitted to keep doing business on the Web.

What was not widely agreed upon was whether advertising by casinos and gambling operators will be allowed on German team jerseys and in sports arenas. Over half of those surveyed think that bans on this practice will be dropped, citing the loss of televised coverage for major sporting events that would otherwise get the necessary coverage due to sponsorship by gambling giants like Bwin.