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Norway Smug

A recent ruling by the Olso court has the Norwegian government just a bit smug this week. Ladbrokes, a UK based land and online casino gambling and betting group has been in litigation with the Norwegian government since 2004 because of the presence of a Norwegian gambling monopoly which blocks foreign companies from accessing the Scandinavian (and Norwegian in particular) markets. Ladbrokes is one of a handful of online casinos looking to put the protectionist gambling policies to the test. And as much as the online gambling industry protests the state gambling monopolies in countries like Norway, Germany, and other countries, the Oslo courts upheld the Norwegian government’s refusal of a gambling license in 2004.

In 2004 Ladbrokes applied for a gambling license for the Norwegian land and emerging online casino gambling market. Norwegian officials denied the company a license and found itself in court. Ladbrokes took the case to the courts in Oslo citing policies with the European Fair Trading Agreement – unfortunately though the Oslo presiding judge did not see the situation the same way the online casino gambling company did and ruled against Ladbrokes – giving the victory to the Norwegian government…at least for now.

The Norwegian officials have firmly stood by their right to operate the Norske Tipping monopoly and feel that this latest judgment is just one more affirmation of that right. The Minister of Culture and Churches in Norway, Trond Giske, commented on the government’s victory, "The verdict sends an important message that supports the European tradition that each individual country has the most effective control of its own gambling market." This victory could mean that other countries still operating the controversial online gambling monopolies feel even more justification for the continuation of state monopolies, but more than likely Ladbrokes will appeal this ruling all the way to the highest courts.