EU says Sweden must make its own gambling decisions

The European Court of Justice has thrown out the claim of a private internet gambling operator that had hoped to be granted instant access to the Swedish market. Instead Malta-based Unibet will have to wait for the Swedish courts to rule on its licensing case.

Unibet maintains that because it is licensed in one member state, loosely regulated Malta, it should be able to do business in any other under EU rules on the free movement of goods and services.

State lotteries in Europe welcomed the ruling as an endorsement of member states' rights to restrict the offer of sports betting and other gambling services, as established in existing ECJ case law.