Portugal gaming law may meet EU rules-court adviser

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Portugal's Santa Casa betting monopoly may comply with European Union rules on the free movement of services if certain conditions are met, an adviser to the bloc's top court said on Tuesday.

Santa Casa had won two domestic court cases against the Portuguese football league Liga and Baw, a Gibraltar-based company that operates online gaming company betandwin.com.

Santa Casa had argued that betandwin.com's sponsorship of the Liga infringed its monopoly status.

"According to the advocate general ... Portuguese legislation conferring on Santa Casa a monopoly for mutual betting on the Internet may comply with community law if certain conditions are met," the European Court of Justice said in a statement.

The law must be notified to the European Commission for approval, however.

"Failing this, the legislation would not be applicable as against Bwin and the Liga," the statement said.

The opinion of the adviser is not binding on the court. (Reporting by Michele Sinner, writing by Huw Jones, editing by Dale Hudson)