Global Gaming loses initial relief appeal
Ninja Casino operator barred from operating in Sweden during licence revocation appeal
Global Gaming will be unable to operate in Sweden during the appeal against its licence revocation after an administrative court today dismissed a so-called “inhibition claim” by the operator.
Following the dismissal, Global Gaming has said it will launch a separate appeal against the court’s decision, claiming it is causing “continuous damage” to the business. Acting Global Gaming CEO Tobias Fagerlund said the company, its employees and shareholders are “hurt every minute” the business cannot operate.
Fagerlund said being able to operate during the judicial review was essential to ensuring a “fair and secure trial of the case”.
This new appeal will be passed to the Swedish Administrative Court of Appeal in Stockholm.
“Our attitude to the basic question is clear,” Fagerlund said. “The regulator’s decision to withdraw our licence is incorrect and we look forward to the legal review of the decision.
In an interview with Dagens Media today, Fagerlund called the licence revocation incorrect and disproportionate, pointing to Lottoland’s fine in Sweden yesterday, and adding: “I can only say that the assessment is different”.
A spokesperson for the Swedish Gaming Authority could not give a timescale on how long the legal challenge would take to go through the courts. However, the SGA confirmed should the court rule in favour of Global Gaming, its licence would be automatically reinstated.
Kristian Wind, partner at Complianza consultants, said the SGA had showed “remarkable patience” with Global Gaming and it was “quite possible they could have revoked the licence in April/May if they wanted to signal a ‘no-nonsense, zero-tolerance approach”.
Wind said the evidence suggested that the SGA gave the operator several weeks to submit a remedial action plan, and only revoked the licence when that plan was clearly ineffective.