Slovakia overturns gambling ban in Bratislava

The Regional Court in Bratislava ruled that the gambling ban didn’t comply with the law.

Slovakia.- A verdict from the Regional Court in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, establishes that the ban imposed on gambling did not comply with the law. The ban ended up being overturned and gaming houses can continue their operations.

Responding to the verdict, Bratislava Mayor Ivo Nesrovnal said: “The wishes of 136,000 Bratislavans, as well as all opponents of gambling in our city, have been trampled,” and he said that the city will take the case to the Supreme Court.

Local media reported that the Court was not, in fact, ruling on the ban but on the way in which it was introduced. The ban was first adopted by city councillors at the second attempt, as the first that took place in February 2017 failed as not enough officials raised their hands in favour. The voting came to life after a petition that requested a gambling ban was signed by approximately 130,000 citizens.

The Bratislava city council adopted the absolute ban on March 30th, 2017, and the measure came into force at the beginning of May 2017. The Regional Court’s verdict has ruled out the chance to repeat the vote.