The Swedish Supreme Court has granted the editors of two popular tabloid newspapers the right to appeal criminal prosecutions for accepting advertisements from foreign gambling companies. Wednesday’s decision obliges the Court of Appeal to assess the compatibility of Swedish gambling legislation with EC law in light of recent European Commission action and last year’s Placanica verdict.

A long-running gambling case involving the former editor of a Swedish tabloid newspaper is to be referred to the European Court of Justice, GamblingCompliance understands. Observers believe the referral will further weaken the resolve of Swedish prosecutors looking to apply Swedish legislation prohibiting the advertising of foreign-based gambling services.

While Sweden’s right to set its own gambling policy has recently been upheld by the ECJ, its domestic courts must nevertheless assess whether penalties for the promotion of gambling organised abroad are discriminatory.

An official study of Swedish gambling legislation has recommended the introduction of a licensing system that would divide gambling offers on the basis of their risk to players, and proposes that Svenska Spel be allowed to maintain its monopoly over land-based casinos, lotteries and online poker. But with the changes not scheduled to take effect for a further two years, observers question whether the proposals will be enough to placate the European Commission in Brussels.

The European Court of Justice held further oral proceedings related to cross-border gambling last week, with preliminary opinions on three separate cases from both Austria and Sweden due to be published in late February.

The European Commission announced yesterday that it plans to launch an investigation into the online poker operations of Sweden’s gambling monopoly Svenska Spel. While Germany also received a widely anticipated notice of infringement over its controversial Interstate Treaty, it may be the Swedish inquiry that has the potential to bring about more rapid change.

With Europe’s online gambling sector awaiting a formal opinion on the legality of Dutch gambling policy tomorrow, the ECJ has confirmed that Swedish rules on online gambling will be next in line for scrutiny before Europe’s top court in the New Year.

Europe’s top court has confirmed a date for its ruling on two cases that challenge Sweden’s ban on foreign gambling advertising.

Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet has said it intends to publish an advertisement for Maltese gambling company Expekt, despite a court ruling on Thursday authorizing stiff penalties if it goes ahead.

Ministerial rhetoric on reshaping gambling monopoly Svenska Spel into a more socially responsible operator has evidently not been communicated to Brussels, as time runs out for Sweden to answer EU concerns. The appointment of a new chairman for the operator, widely regarded as unsuitable for the role, has also raised questions about government indecision.