Swedes Rethinking Online Gambling Ban

March 29, 2008

It looks as though Sweden�s ban on online gambling advertising may be coming to an end. It seems that prosecutors were told to stop going after the media outlets that were publishing or airing ads that are related to online gambling from foreign nations.

Allegedly UC Malmos, a department of the country�s Prosecution Authority, sent down an order stating that the online gambling advertising ban was to stop being such a large problem and time consumer for the country. It seems that there are plenty of people both within and outside of the country that really wanted to see the ban overturned.

It seems that an appeal was made from Aftonbladet and Expressen, two of Sweden�s newspapers. They send a letter to the European Commission stating that Sweden�s law �did not permit free movement of trade and services� between the country and the 27 member nations. They said that by not allowing online gambling advertising it was in breach of that understanding.

Once the letter was out there, the Swedish Court of Appeals was directed to reopen and examine the verdict against the newspaper, as they had been found guilty of breaching the law by accepting such advertising. They have been attempting to appeal the verdict for the past four years.

The appeals court agreed and ruled that the laws were in �possibly� in contradiction with elements of the European Pact.

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