Romania’s Lottery Co Appeals Against State Aid Reimbursing Decision

The Court of Appeals rejected recently the appeal filed by the Finance Ministry and the lottery against the Competition Council’s decision which has the lottery reimburse state aid.

In 2006, the Competition Council made an investigation and concluded that Loteria Romana had two gambling activities, Videoloterie and Pariloto, respectively, for which it avoided paying taxes and license fees. In addition, the two activities were not submitted to the authorization process imposed on private gambling organizers, which led to another expense exemption.

At that time, the Competition watchdog established that the lottery benefited from state aid and the money must be returned to the state budget. The sum has been established at RON50.6 million.

The Finance Ministry and the lottery appealed the Council’s decision and requested the court to suspend it.

"In case of a favorable definitive and irrevocable court decision, the lottery will be forced to reimburse the state aid established at that date, plus the updated interests," the Council’s president Gheorghe Oprescu told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

As the Bucharest Court of Appeals rejected the request to suspend from execution the Council of Competition’s decision, the Finance Ministry and the Lottery submitted an appeal to the High Court of Justice. The next term in the trial was set for February 5.