Recently in Sweden Category

The Right2bet World Cup Report, published last week, has evoked a strong reaction across the online gambling industry, with consumers, consumer groups and operators all coming forward to comment on the report's findings.

The report exclusively revealed that European gambling monopolies offered their customers, on average, 32% worse odds during the World Cup than private and licensed betting operators, and the response across Europe has been one of shock and dismay.

Consumers across Europe contacted Right2bet to voice their reaction to the report.

Julien Beaudet in France said: "As a French player I now feel extremely limited and frustrated with regards to my playing experience. Consumers have been totally denigrated by the supposed French 'liberalisation' and it is totally unfair."

David Atkins of Amsterdam commented: "It never ceases to amaze me how monopolies like De Lotto get away with such blatant exploitation of customers.  This report shows first-hand how much people in the Netherlands and many other EU countries are losing out and I hope it acts as a catalyst to drive the change we need to enable free and fair access to online private operators."

Luca Pappalardo, Chairman of Italian Consumer group ACOGI, said: "We strongly agree with and applaud the output of this report. Even in Member States like Italy where there is no monopoly, the high burdens and barriers to entry make it almost impossible for many operators and as a result, Italian consumers are punished."

Martin Arendts, a prominent online gambling lawyer in Germany, told Right2bet: "A level playing field between state operators and licensed private operators would give customers freedom of choice and would prohibit unfair monopoly gains. With fair competition customers would get a far better value for their money."

Operators too were quick to comment on the report:

Ciaran O'Brien, Head of PR at Ladbrokes commented: "Consumer freedom and choice is at the heart of fundamental EU principles, yet as the Right2bet report shows, millions of Europeans are being denied the choice and the value that healthy competition provides. We urge the Commission to study the findings of the report and do more to rectify the unjust balance that exists between EU citizens living within different Member States."

Tim Phillips, Director of European Public Affairs at Betfair said: "An open and fairly regulated European gambling market is the best way of ensuring that all European consumers are getting the best value in a safe and transparent online environment. The Right2bet report shows quite clearly that consumers are the ultimate losers in Member States where gambling monopolies exist."
 
Right2bet spokesman Mike Robb was delighted with the widespread appreciation of the report.  He said: "I am pleased that the startling results of the report have reached individuals and groups within the online gambling world across Europe. We now urge the European Commission to study the findings and do more to rectify an unjust situation that is to the detriment of millions of European consumers."

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomed today´s two Advocate General (AG) opinions at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in cases related to gaming and betting restrictions, respectively in Austria and Sweden.

Advocate General Mazák questions the legality of Casinos Austria licenses and its de facto monopoly.

In his opinion delivered in the Austrian Casino case involving Ernst Engelmann before the ECJ, Advocate General Mazák confirmed today that:

• The requirement of an establishment in Austria "is a clear example of direct discrimination against companies who are seated in another member state".

• "Contrary to the view of the Austrian government, controls can be enforced on any company established in a member state and in addition, sanctions can be applied irrespective of the place of residence of its management".

• Licenses in the gaming sector must be awarded in a public and transparent manner.

• The national court has to determine whether fiscal objectives of the legislation in fact only constitute "an incidental beneficial consequence". Should this not be the case, the monopoly regime is in violation of EU law, regardless of the level of advertising.

This opinion, if confirmed by the ECJ in its ruling, would sign the end of Casinos Austria's de facto monopoly on poker and casino games, and lead to important reforms in Austria.

Austria has clear profit-driven objectives when it comes to gaming and betting, with no consistent or systematic consumer protection policy. The Austrian market has been continuously expanding with massive monopolists' advertising expenditure. 77% of the shares of Casinos Austria are held by private shareholders, including banks and insurance companies.

Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA comments: "In this context, there is no acceptable justification to prevent reputable European competitors from offering online poker and casino games to Austrian players".

Advocate General Bot confirms in joint Swedish newspapers cases that Member States must not discriminate against EU operators.

These cases were brought to the ECJ in the context of the advertising in two Swedish newspapers "Expressen" and "Aftonbladet" of non-Swedish online gaming and betting operators duly licensed in other Member States. The chief editors of both newspapers are subject to criminal sanctions under Swedish law.

In his opinion, Advocate General Bot concludes:

• "While a member state is entitled to restrict activities associated with gambling within its territory, the measures which it adopts for that purpose must not be discriminatory, even if they are based on the defense of public order".

• "Community law precludes national legislation under which anyone who promotes participation in internet gaming organized by a company established in another member state is liable to criminal penalties, whereas anyone who promotes participation in such gaming organized within the national territory without an authorization does not incur such penalties."

The EGBA welcomes the confirmation by AG Bot that Sweden must not apply discriminatory sanctions towards licensed EU operators. EGBA further notes that marketing restrictions in place in Sweden are detrimental to the national economy.

Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA comments: "It is remarkable that leading national newspapers, which are financed through and very much dependent on the sale of advertising, are unfairly deprived of substantial sources of revenue".

Sigrid Ligné adds: "The marketing prohibition that applies to legal EU operators in Swedish media does not have any impact on the overall level of consumption of games of chance in Sweden. Svenska Spel and ATG conduct heavy advertising campaign throughout the territory and Swedish consumers also receive advertising from other Member States on Television".

Dates for the rulings of the ECJ in the two above-mentioned cases have not yet been determined.

Liverpool have had a bad run of results of late and failed to get a home win once again this weekend, this time against big-spending Manchester City.  Rafa Benitez is under real pressure to deliver results now and restlessness from The Kop can be heard a million miles away.

The Anfield faithful might well be upset, but if you are a Liverpool fan from France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden or Denmark you should be in tears this morning.

If you had been savvy enough to have a bet on the draw, just to dampen the pain of not winning, you would have got odds of 3.46 with the best private operator, meaning winnings of €24.60 with which to buy yourself a consolatory beer.

Had you bet with any of the monopoly gambling operators in the countries listed above, you'd have been lucky to have enough for the bus fare home.

Liverpool v Manchester City: Odds On The Draw

FDJ (Fra)                                  3.0
De Lotto (Ned)                       2.95
Svenska Spel (Swe)             2.2
Danske Spil (Den)                3.25
Lotto Bayern (Ger)                2.8
Best Private Operator*       3.46

 

Profit From A 10 Euro Bet On The Draw

FDJ                                         €20
De Lotto                                €19.50
Svenska Spel                       €12
Danske Spil                          €22.50
Lotto Bayern                         €18
Best Private Operator*       €24.60

Profits From The Challenge So Far (after seven bets)

FDJ                                            €124 (-30%)
De Lotto                                    €133.4 (-25%)
Best Private Operator*          €176.80

 

Profits From The Challenge So Far (after two bets)

Svenska Spel (Swe)               €55.50 (-42.6%)
Danske Spil (Den)                   €87.50 (-10%)
Lotto Bayern (Ger)                  €58 (-40%)
Best Private Operator*          €96.80

 

Do you want us to cover the odds in a particular game from where you are?  We can do no problem, send us an email (mike@right2bet.net) and we'll get it done!

 

*Note: throughout this challenge any applicable commission associated with private operators has been taken off the weekly and total winnings.

 

Amsterdam, 8 oktober - Met een overtuigend 'ja' stemde Ierland vrijdag in met de invoering van het Verdrag van Lissabon. Met deze beslissing is het moment waarop de EU haar inwoners het recht kan verlenen een verzoekschrift in te dienen bij de Europese Commissie dichterbij gekomen. De right2bet campagne, die opkomt voor de keuzevrijheid van burgers, is de eerste sectorbrede campagne die zal profiteren van nieuwe Europese regelgeving.

De right2bet campagne richt zich op het beëindigen van door de staat goedgekeurde en beschermde monopolies op kansspelen, die op dit moment van kracht zijn in EU-lidstaten zoals Duitsland, Finland, Zweden en Nederland. Met behulp van een online petitie die door een miljoen mensen moet worden ondertekend, probeert Right2bet de Europese regelgeving te veranderen.

Right2bet wil de Europese Commissie dwingen zijn plicht na te komen, door te pleiten voor het naleven van dat de wetten van de EU op het gebied van vrije handel. De rechten van bedrijven om hun diensten in alle lidstaten aan te bieden moeten worden beschermd, zodat consumenten het recht hebben om kansspelen te spelen via elke gewenste aanbieder.

Michael Robb, woordvoerder van right2bet, zegt: "Met de Ierse goedkeuring van het Verdrag is een grote stap gezet richting nieuwe democratische rechten voor EU-inwoners. Het huidige internet tijdperk maakt het mogelijk consumenten over een heel continent te mobiliseren en verenigen achter een gemeenschappelijk doel. Met een online petitie als deze wordt de aandacht van EU-politici getrokken."

"Het Ierse 'ja' biedt perspectief, het is nu belangrijker dan ooit tevoren dat we stemmen verzamelen van iedereen die het vrije keuzerecht van consumenten ondersteunt."

Ruchtbaarheid is van essentieel belang voor de campagne, daarom is gekozen voor een leuke en enigszins provocatieve insteek. Bezoekers kunnen op www.right2bet.nl hun steun betuigen door het lichaam van model en right2bet ambassadrice Katie-Marie virtueel te 'tekenen'.

Svenska Spel filed a law suit against Ladbrokes in 2008 for breach of trademark laws in connection with the Ladbrokes advertising campaign "Swedish games with English odds".

 

Svenska Spel claimed that Ladbrokes had misused the Svenska Spel trademark and that only the state monopoly can use the term "Swedish" and "games" for commercial use in advertising and marketing. The Market Court in Sweden has today ruled that Ladbrokes did not violate the trademark act of Sweden

Ladbrokes countered with a law suit against Swedish game (Svenska Spel) for violation of the Marketing Act, for the use of terms such as "Svenska Spel is a world leader in responsible gaming" and "the most effective age verification online." The Swedish Marketing Court ruled in favour of Ladbrokes and Svenska Spel faces a penalty of SEK 750 000 if these statements are used in future marketing activities.

 

The ruling also noted that Ladbrokes did not sufficiently manage to demonstrate that the use of statements such as "same game" and "major gains" in the Ladbrokes ad campaign 2008 was relevant to the facts, and therefore contrary to the Marketing Act.

Commenting on the result of the case Christopher Bell, Chief Executive of Ladbrokes, said:  "This case means that Swedish monopolies cannot extend their power to monopolising language.

 

"We will continue to highlight the consumer benefits of a competitive market in betting and gaming in contrast to disproportionate state monopoly laws and actions that restrict competition and choice."

 

Our wonderful right2bet models have been taking our cause around the streets of beautiful Stockholm, and they've been causing quite a stir.



Make sure you check out the full range of photos of their noble protest by visiting our gallery.