Gaming companies suing Norway
European gaming companies are suing Norway
The Industry Association of European Gaming Companies in Brussels (EGBA), has sued Norway for breach of the EU’s agreement on free flow of goods and services across national borders.
In the lawsuit filed in the Oslo District Court, the gaming companies require that the ban on the transfer of money between Norwegian online players and companies registered abroad is lifted, according to Klassekampen.
Norwegian banks were last year ordered to stop all money transfers between these companies and Norwegian players.
– The Norwegian ban on payment services is in violation of Norwegian as well as EU legislation, says Maarten Haijer, CEO of EGBA.
Betson and Unibet
Behind the association are a number of Europe’s most powerful gaming companies, such as Betsson and the Kindred Group, who are the owners of Unibet.
The Ministry of Culture does not want to comment on the lawsuit process and indicates that the case is still in an early phase.
«The ban on payment services for gambling without Norwegian permission is a natural consequence of, and in conjunction with, the existing prohibitions to hold, convey and market such gambling in Norway», they write to the newspaper.
Norway is currently one of only four countries that do not allow foreign gambling on the internet.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
