According to the evening news of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), Finland has been granted additional time by the European Union to provide an explanation of whether or not the Finnish gaming monopoly restricts the free movement of services in the European Union.
Initially the report was to have been handed in by early June, but now the deadline has been put back until August.
The Finns sought additional time because there were discrepancies to be seen in the Finnish-language and Swedish-language versions of the request sent by the EU. Some were actual translation errors, which a representative of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior believed could have had a material impact on the outcome of the dispute.
The ministry does not believe the monopolies enjoyed by gaming and lottery companies within Finland are in conflict with the basic charter of the EU.
Six other EU member-states were ordered to produce an explanation. At least thus far Finland is the only country to have asked for additional time. The new deadline is believed to be August 10th.
In the background to the dispute is a complaint filed with the European Court of Justice by Ladrokes, one of the world's largest betting and gaming companies. Ladbrokes want to see the monopolies dismantled and the gaming markets opened up to competition.
At present the Finnish gaming and lotteries market, believed to be worth more than EUR 2,000 annually, is in the hands of three companies: Veikkaus, RAY, and Finntoto (see earlier articles).
