END IN SIGHT FOR SWEDISH MONOPOLY?
19 December 2008
Public commission advises some major changes
Sweden's state-owned Svenska Spel gambling monopoly may
find itself at the centre of some dramatic policy
changes if the authorities accept the recommendations of
a public commission appointed to study and report back
on the subject.
Stockholm News reports that the commission has
recommended that the monopoly be disbanded, at least
partly. The news will be welcomed by European Commission
officials, who have been warning the Swedish government
for some time that its monopoly flies in the face of
European Union principles of free and fair movement of
goods and services between member nations.
Svenska Spel has in the past been an aggressive defender
of its privileged position against local media accepting
competitive gambling advertising, and against Internet
companies from other EU nations seeking to offer their
betting facilities to Swedish residents.
The commission has proposed that companies other than
Svenska Spel should also have the right to offer sports
betting in Sweden. The monopoly should remain in place
in respect of poker and casino gambling, the
commissioners suggested, because these are thought to be
more dangerous for problem gamblers.
The recommendations emphasise that foreign Internet
betting sites wishing to enter the Swedish market should
be made comply with Swedish regulations and operate in a
professional manner. Those that do not should be
regarded as illegal and face action by the authorities.
Online Casino News courtesy of
InfoPowa
More news here.
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