Call for EC to take action against Swedish monopoly

Two Swedish journalists have published an open letter to European Union (EU) compliance chief Charlie McCreevy calling for active enforcement of the EU's requirements of its member states to engage in the movement of free trade and services, including online gaming.

Sweden, a growing market for online bingo games, operates a state-run gambling monopoly and this has exasperated the authors of the letter, Anders Gerdin and Jan Helin, who believe non-Swedish EU-based online gambling competitors are being unfairly restricted.

The letter calls for "strong and decisive" measures from the European Commission aimed at Swedish non-compliance.  At this time non-Swedish online bingo halls are excluded from operating in the Swedish bingo online market due to the state's monopoly.

The authors urge European Commission to "proceed as soon as possible", saying: "It is high time to put an end to the Swedish government's lack of respect for the EU Treaty."