- Status
- Judgment entered (judgment)
- As of
- 30 May 2007 · read from the court record
- Court
- EFTA Court (request from Oslo tingrett) · Court of Justice of the EU
- Docket
- E-3/06
- Filed
- not on record
- Type
- Operator v. regulator, licensing and administrative court cases
- Money
- No settlement fund or award on record
- Payout
- No payout exists as of 14 Nov 2026
Status words follow the court record: a complaint states one side's allegations, only the court's orders decide anything. Filing a settlement claim is always free.
What this case is about
The EFTA Court advised that exclusive-rights systems may be justified only if the state's gaming policy genuinely and consistently seeks to reduce gambling opportunities, that the marketing and new-game development of the monopolist are relevant to that assessment, and that the national court must apply a full proportionality test. Oslo tingrett nonetheless ruled for the State on 3 October 2008 and Ladbrokes abandoned its appeal in 2009; Norwegian courts have since cited the opinion as endorsing the model.
What this case is about
EFTA Court case E-3/06 is an advisory opinion issued on 30 May 2007 in Ladbrokes Ltd v The Government of Norway. The request came from the Oslo tingrett (Oslo District Court). It is one of the Licensing and Administrative Court Cases in which an operator challenges a state's gambling rules.
Ladbrokes was refused a license. It argued that the exclusive rights of Norsk Tipping (sports betting and lotteries) and Norsk Rikstoto (horse racing) breach articles 31 and 36 of the EEA Agreement.
Who is covered
The defendant is the Government of Norway, acting through the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The plaintiff is a single operator, Ladbrokes Ltd.
The opinion matters to any operator or state relying on an exclusive-rights system within the EEA. For other rulings of the EU courts, see Gambling Lawsuits in European Union (CJEU).
Is there a payout?
No payout exists in this case. It is an operator-against-state dispute about a license and market access, and the record shows no fund, damages award or settlement.
Players have no claim to file. The money block of the record is empty.
What the court decided
The EFTA Court advised that an exclusive-rights system may be justified only if the state's gaming policy genuinely and consistently seeks to reduce gambling opportunities. It said the marketing and new-game development of the monopolist are relevant to that assessment. It also said the national court must apply a full proportionality test.
The Oslo tingrett nonetheless ruled for the State on 3 October 2008. Ladbrokes abandoned its appeal in 2009. Norwegian courts have since cited the opinion as endorsing the model.
As of 14 November 2026 the record shows no further step. The EFTA Court gave advice; the Oslo court then decided the case itself.
Why it matters
The opinion states a test for exclusive-rights systems: the policy must genuinely and consistently restrict gambling. The way a monopolist markets itself and launches new games counts as evidence.
The outcome also shows the gap between the test and the result, because the State won in Oslo. Related disputes over license and market access are collected under Operators Against Regulators and States.
Questions people ask
What did the EFTA Court say about gambling monopolies?
It advised on 30 May 2007 that exclusive rights may be justified only if the state's gaming policy genuinely and consistently seeks to reduce gambling opportunities. The national court must also apply a full proportionality test.
Did Ladbrokes win in Norway?
No. The Oslo tingrett ruled for the State on 3 October 2008, and Ladbrokes abandoned its appeal in 2009. Norwegian courts have since cited the EFTA opinion as endorsing the monopoly model.
Does a monopolist's advertising matter?
Yes. The EFTA Court said the marketing and new-game development of the monopolist are relevant to whether the gaming policy is consistently restrictive.
Related cases
- Ladbrokes v Norway, Oslo tingrett (3 October 2008): the national ruling after the EFTA opinion, now marked withdrawn after the 2009 abandoned appeal.
- Trannel International v Norway stop order: a later Norwegian case (Oslo tingrett 20 June 2022, Borgarting lagmannsrett 1 June 2023) over an order to stop offering games.
Who is involved
Plaintiffs: Ladbrokes Ltd
| Defendants | Government of Norway (Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs; Ministry of Agriculture and Food) |
|---|---|
| Claims |
|
Is there a payout?
No payout exists in this case as of 14 Nov 2026.
What happens next
No future date is on the record we hold. The case is closed on the record we hold; later appeals or enforcement steps would be added here.
Timeline
1 dated step on record, oldest first. Future dates come from court notices and can move.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 30 May 2007 | Judgment entered |
Documents and sources
2 primary sources (court file, administrator notice, regulator) and 0 secondary. Press is supporting evidence only.
- Docket: eftacourt.int
- Court document: regjeringen.no
| What it supports | Source | Type | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFTA Court Ladbrokes opinion 30 May 2007 (Norwegian government copy) | regjeringen.no | primary | 14 Nov 2026 |
| EFTA Court case page E-3/06 | eftacourt.int | primary | 14 Nov 2026 |
Related cases
2 cases in the record share parties, claims or a settlement with this one.
| Case | Court | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ladbrokes loses challenge to Norwegian betting monopoly | Oslo tingrett | Withdrawn |
| Kindred v Norway: stop order and NOK 1.2M daily fine upheld | Borgarting lagmannsrett | Judgment entered |
Last checked against the sources on 14 Nov 2026. Found an error? Tell us and we correct the record with a dated note.