Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), a government-sanctioned gambling monopoly, is attempting to prohibit foreign Internet gambling from encroaching upon its territory by applying a law that was written over 100 years, ago in 1891.

The law, originally intended as a way to prevent the unscrupulous from overtaking and operating gambling casinos, allowed the establishment of the government sanctioned gambling operator PMU, and was considered a more viable option than a prohibition on gambling.

The companies targeted for the suit, Sporting Bet, Stanley International (both based in Britain), Bet and Win (based in Gibraltar) and Mr. Bookmaker (based in Malta) have all vowed to fight the attempted ban, arguing that it is in violation of international trade agreements.