Euro Online Casino

Norway is informed that it’s most anticipated online casino payment processing ban is in violation of EFTA regulations with regard to the free movement of gambling services within its member nations. The European Free Trade Association’s Surveillance Authority has informed Norwegian officials that a plan to execute blocked payments to online casinos similar to the USA’s UIGEA bill breaks free trade rules for the Internal Market of member nations. Norway is trying to establish a ban on online casino banking payment processes to all online gambling websites, with only state gambling monopolies excused.

The EFTA consists of 4 member nations and include Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein. The organization is responsible for retaining the group’s free trade and partnership treaties, and is also responsible for joining the members under the European Economic Area Agreement with the EU to create a sole Internal Market.

The EEA offers free movement of services, capital and goods all through the EU and EFTA and one of these services includes gambling in the free trade deal. The Surveillance Authority informed Norway that the blocking of financial dealings to and from online operators who are legally established within the Internal Market is a violation of EFTA regulations. The Norwegian authorities have been told that if they continued with the planned August implementation, they may face violation procedures before the EFTA courts.

A dispute that the government is trying to guard consumers can be made, but it somehow seems defeated by the aggressive employment and marketing campaigns run by the Norwegian gambling monopolies.

The CEO of the Remote Gaming Association declared that the Norwegian authorities appear to be more motivated by the need to safeguard revenues from gambling, but this is not a legitimate justification to prohibit the internal market rules.