Ladbrokes v De Lotto: Member States may block foreign online bookmakers (CJEU): Status, Rulings and What It Means for Players

What this case is about

Case C-258/08 is a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) of 3 June 2010.

It arose in a civil action by Stichting de Nationale Sporttotalisator (De Lotto) against Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Ltd and Ladbrokes International Ltd, and the Hoge Raad, the Dutch Supreme Court, referred the questions. It is one of the Licensing and Administrative Court Cases that test national betting rules against EU law.

The Dutch rules prohibited offering online betting without a Wok license, and De Lotto sought an injunction to block Dutch residents. Ladbrokes invoked article 49 of the EC Treaty.

Who is covered

This is a dispute between two private parties over a state-backed monopoly, not a class action. No player is a party.

The ruling bears on bookmakers licensed in one EU country that want to serve residents of another, and on the Member States that restrict them. The Gambling Lawsuits in European Union (CJEU) overview lists the other EU court cases we track.

Is there a payout?

No payout exists in this case. The record shows no fund, no damages award and no claim process, because the case settled a question of EU law. Filing a settlement claim is free wherever a claim exists, but none exists here. GamblingLawsuits.org is not a law firm and not a claims administrator.

What the court decided

As of 14 November 2026 the case is decided, and its status is judgment. The Court held that a Member State may prohibit a bookmaker licensed in another Member State from offering online bets to its residents. It may also order that bookmaker to block access.

The Court attached a condition: the restrictive policy must be pursued consistently. It added that the monopolist's development of new games and its advertising do not necessarily make the policy inconsistent.

The Hoge Raad rejected Ladbrokes' appeal on 24 February 2012.

Why it matters

The judgment is a precedent for blocking foreign online bookmakers. For players in a country with a monopoly, it means that a license from another EU country does not by itself give an operator the right to serve them.

The same day the Court decided the Betfair case, C-203/08, which dealt with how the Netherlands granted and renewed its licenses. Both are grouped with other Operators Against Regulators and States disputes.

Questions people ask

Can an EU country block a foreign online bookmaker?

Yes, on conditions. The Court held that a Member State may prohibit a bookmaker licensed elsewhere from serving its residents and order it to block access, provided the policy is pursued consistently (C-258/08).

Does a monopolist's advertising make the policy inconsistent?

Not necessarily. The Court said the monopolist's development of new games and its advertising do not by themselves make the restrictive policy inconsistent.

Related cases

• Stichting de Nationale Sporttotalisator (De Lotto) tegen Ladbrokes, Hoge Raad 24 februari 2012: the Dutch Supreme Court judgment that followed this ruling.
• C-203/08 The Sporting Exchange Ltd (Betfair) v Minister van Justitie: the companion judgment of the same day.