Court Orders Betsson to Shut Office

Swedish gaming company Betsson has been forced to shut its betting office in Stockholm following a decision by the Swedish Administrative Court of Appeal (Kammarrätten).

The company has decided to close the location on December 22nd following the threat of facing 2.5 million kronor ($343,000) in fines.

Betsson said it was left with little option but to shut up shop after the court ruled that the fine would otherwise stand even if the company appeals the judgement to the Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten).

The Swedish Gaming Board (Lotteriinspektionen) has claimed that the office has been in violation of Swedish gaming law since it opened one and a half years ago. Betsson is of the opinion that European Community legislation, which supersedes Swedish law, grants it the right to run the betting office.

"We are extremely surprised by the Administrative Court of Appeal's ruling. We believe that the Swedish state is in violation of EC legislation when it prevents a private gaming company from operating in Sweden at the same time that the State's gaming enterprise aggressively markets its activities. We will therefore appeal the decision," Pontus Lindwall, managing director of Betsson, said in a statement.

Source:  The Local