Gambling trade body files legal challenge to Norwegian financial ban

The European Gaming and Betting Association, a trade body that includes most major European gambling groups among its members, has filed a legal challenge in an Oslo court against the Norwegian government’s bank bans on the processing of international financial transactions with gambling operators.

EGBA claims that interference with such transactions is a contravention of European Union principles regarding the free movement of goods and services between member states.

Maarten Haijer, the managing director of the trade body, told local media that the ban was additionally a violation of Norwegian law, and in a Twitter post urged the Norwegian authorities to “design a policy for online gaming which is modern, protects consumers and reflects the reality of the digital age.”

The EGBA filing points out that under Norwegian law online gamblers do not commit an offence in using international gambling websites, but the government claims that the payment processing ban was a logical consequence imposed in conjunction with existing prohibitions on unlicensed gambling in Norway.

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