Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet has announced its intention to carry advertisement promoting Malta-based operator Expekt, thereby contravening a district court order issued today, which authorizes stiff financial penalties if it goes ahead.
Swedish English-language daily The Local reports that officials at the country's Gaming Board (Lotteriinspektionen), a regulatory body, spoke with feathers ruffled on Aftonbladet's defiance.
"I would call this contempt of court, pure and simple," the board's chief legal advisor, Håken Hallstedt, told the paper.
The Södermanland district court today ruled that it was within the Gaming Board's legal prerogative to impose a fine of $21,200 for every gambling advertisement the tabloid published.
Aftonbladet has three weeks to appeal, after which the Gaming Board may begin imposing fines.
The paper said that the tabloid is one of a number of Swedish media sources which carry the adverts; but under the country's law, television companies, Web sites and other media sources are prohibited from promoting non-authorized gaming companies.
The only authorized gambling companies, Svenska Spel and ATG, are "big earners" for the Swedish state, the paper said.
Olof Brundin, a spokesman for Aftonbladet, told The Local that he believed the tabloid was not in the wrong and would probably appeal--though he did say a decision as to if and when has not been reached.
The paper said media have repeatedly argued--so far, without success--that the ad ban conflicts with freedom of the press, as guaranteed by the Swedish constitution and EU rules.