The report issued this week by the Swedish National Gambling Consultation failed to bring the anticipated deregulation of the country’s betting and gaming laws. Instead of the Svenska Spa monopoly being broken up, the only area to be opened to other operators is sportsbetting. Betting on horses is excluded and there are now proposals to introduce IP and payments blocking provisions.

This is not the result wanted or expected by companies such as Betsson, Unibet and Ladbrokes. The Betsson CEO Pontus Lindwall said operators had spent a considerable amount of time and energy providing the Swedish commission with expert input on setting up a well-regulated open market. "We were hoping for some kind of harmonisation where we could compete on a level playing field, whether it be taxes, access to market and so on." Lindwall added, "Instead, the Inquiry has gone completely the other way and wants to allow only Svenska Spel the opportunity to offer all interactive gaming products except for online sports betting.”

Ladbrokes described the report 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." (E-12.19.08)

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