EU court Scolds Norway on Ladbrokes Case
The European Free Trade Association court ruled that Norway could be in breach of European internal-market rules by blocking UK bookmaker Ladbrokes from setting up gambling operations.
The final decision will rest with an Oslo court, but EFTA’s decision, which ruled that the Norwegian government had completely denied private operators access to the market and therefore encroached upon the freedom to provide services, will help determine the outcome.
Ladbrokes asked Oslo court to nullify rules giving Norwegian firms such as Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto a monopoly over lottery lotto games and sports betting, after being refused entry into the gambling market.
Norway said that domestic gambling companies use their money for socially beneficial purposes, but the court rejected that argument.
“The motive of financing benevolent or public-interest activities cannot in itself be regarded as an objective justification for restrictions on free movement,” the EFTA court said.
Tags: UK Bookmakers, Norway Gambling, Lottery Lotto
