Cherry takes on Norwegian state in court action

An injunction issued against Cherry AB which was initiated by the Norwegian State Lottery-og Stiftelsestilsynet in 2011 will be challenged by the Company in the Oslo City Courts its chief executive said this week.

The legal action required Cherry AB stop marketing and offering real-money games to Norwegian citizens through the EuroLotto.com website.

The lottery which is marketed by Cherry is held in Malta and licensed by the LGA in Malta.

Emil Sunvisson, chief executive officer of Cherry AB believes the injunction is invalid being that it was directed to Cherry AB in Sweden, the wrong addressee, lacks legal basis and is in contravention of the rules governing the free movement of goods and services saying: “I understand that the Norwegian monopoly fears the competition from the great success of EuroLotto. However, the whole situation is very strange. The Norwegian government unjustly tries to protect the monopoly and hinder Norwegian players from choosing private operators that offer the same services offered by the state through Norsk Tipping.”

Cherry believes that the Norwegian government is acting outside its jurisdiction by attempting to prohibit foreign companies from offering Norwegian citizens the opportunity to purchase services that it says are legal in the country.

Sunvisson added: “I am also very surprised that the injunction is directed to Cherry AB in Sweden, I can guarantee that neither myself, nor any of the other three employees at Cherry AB, organize any lotteries. I look forward to a ruling on this issue.

Until further clarification on the issue, Cherry’s subsidiary in Malta intends to continue to offer EuroLotto to players in Europe, including Norway.