Swedish gambling proposals against EU law ladbrokes

Betting and gaming leader ladbrokes today described a report issued today by the Swedish National Gambling Consultation as protectionist and anti-competitive.

Managing Director of Remote Betting and Gaming at ladbrokes, John O'Reilly commented:

"This is a last-ditch attempt to avoid a referral to the ECJ for Sweden's protectionist and unfair betting and gaming laws and yet even now the report seeks to extend the reach of the monopoly to cover online gaming including poker and bingo and further enshrines protection in land-based lotteries, slot machines, casinos and horseracing. None of the EU principles of proportionality or free and fair competition across border have been taken into account in this paper - it is more monopoly, not less. The impact will be to protect Government revenues, penalise competitors and ensure a negative effect on the consumer."

The paper does allow for competition in sports betting, but protects the monopoly with regards to horseracing betting.The paper recommends introducing the new framework by January 2011.

O'Reilly continued: "All operators like ladbrokes ask is the ability to compete on a level playing field. We see no reason why Ladbrokes cannot abide by Swedish regulations as well as any monopoly operator - that's what a licensing and regulatory system should be there to ensure."