The European Free Trade Area court will rule on the legality of the Norwegian Lottery Act, which covers the licensing of betting and gaming operators.
Ladbrokes, which had its application for a betting license, submitted in June 2004, rejected, filed a lawsuit against the Norwegian Government, arguing they should be able to offer their services in competition with the state-licensed monopoly under the principles of free and fair trade enshrined in the Treaty of Rome.
“The case in Norway is a major step in our ongoing challenge to state monopolies in betting and gaming,” said John O\’Reilly, Ladbrokes E-gaming Director.
“By having the case referred to the EFTA court, we can expose the discrepancy between European law and national law.”
“Betting is subject to free and fair competition under Article 49 of the Treaty of Rome, in the same wayas other goods and services. At the moment in many European countries national law is restricting competition and choice and delivering poor value to the consumer.”
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