Europe is always a lot more colourful during World Cup time. Legions of passionate fans wave their countries’ flags and sing songs during games, cheers and jeers emanate from all the sports bars, and there is fighting between rival hooligans as 32 teams vie for the coveted trophy.

Though there is one winner on the field, there are several in the gaming sector. People who bet on the right team cash in and the sportsbooks who take their bets win with all the increased business.

But trouble is brewing in the betting world.

According to a report in the New York Times, World Cup host nation Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Hungary have all been put on notice to ease betting restrictions or face sanctions from the European commission.

Like Canada and the United States, the nations in question have national lotteries to help contribute to its coffers but other forms of gambling are deemed illegal on ethical grounds because they have an adverse effect on society.

Though it seems noble, some say it is window dressing and that there is an ulterior motive.

Torbjorn Ihre said greed is the primary reason for the restrictions. “The official reason for opposing other forms of gambling is out of social concern,” explained the head of public affairs for the European Betting Association. “But the real reason they want to restrict other gambling outlets is because they don’t want to lose the contributions they get from their national lotteries.”

The Swedish lottery is said to pull in about 2.7 billion euros, while Veikkaus, who has licence to control lotteries and variable odds betting in Finland, raked in an estimated 465 million euros last year.

Regardless of the real reasons, the national lotteries coupled with the ban on sports betting outfits amounts to a monopoly on gambling, something the commission says is a no-no.

Charlie McCreevy, the EU’s internal market commissioner, elaborated on the reasons for the action. “The Commission has an obligation under [EU] treaties to ensure that member states’ legislation is fully compatible with EU law.”

Lottery advocates don’t like what’s taking shape. A spokesman for the lotteries group, Tjeerd Veenstra, said the current system in place is ethical as opposed to an open betting market. “We have a system where lottery operators and governments are working together to control gambling,” he said. “If it were left to private companies in a free market, margins would be small and the only way to increase profits would be to incite people to gamble more frequently.”

It’s a matter of virtue in society according to Veenstra. “Revenues from lotteries go back to society, into good causes that benefit society,” he said.

Despite rhyme or reason, a compromise is unlikely to be struck before the tournament starts on June 9th.

“Our hope is that we will eventually be able to participate on equal terms with national betting monopolies, and that we will have the same access to customers that they have,” said Ihre.