Svenske Spel Decides Not To Expand

September 18, 2007

The Swedish online gambling industry’s company Svenske Spel has decided not to apply for expansion and has withdrawn its online casino license application. The company is a state owned gambling monopoly, but it says that they are halting all new development and withdrawing from consideration.

The Swedish government is just one more that has come under fire from the European Commission because it is one of several countries that is excluding other EU nations from benefiting from its lucrative gambling industry. They are not complying with the EU’s free movement of trade and services principles, and therefore are breaking the laws of the EU.

EC Commissioner Charlie McCreevy heard their testimony that they are trying to protect their players from unscrupulous online gambling, but rejected the notion of it. Because of this, the Swedes are most likely looking at a court battle. However, this could take years, so experts say that this may be exactly what the Swedes want.

Since they are no longer planning on expanding, they could be trying to make it look like they are protecting their countrymen from excessive online gambling temptation and thereby addiction. It is anyone’s guess where this will go from here, but in the meantime, the Swedes get to continue with their monopoly.




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