Ladbrokes continues grey market withdrawals

Ladbrokes has confirmed it is to continue to withdraw from a number of grey markets after continuing reviews of its online activity.

Norway, Switzerland and Hungary have been added to the bookmaker’s restricted territories list and a Ladbrokes spokesperson confirmed to eGaming Review that it was withdrawing from a number of markets “as part of our regular legal reviews”.

The decisions come after last month’s announcement that Ladbrokes was to cease operations in the Canadian market as of 1 October.

This week the Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteritilsynet) recently warned a number of foreign operators over what it described as “illegal marketing” in the country and although Ladbrokes was not listed as having received a letter, it has confirmed it will close customer accounts in the country.

The operator has also closed customer accounts from Hungary three months after being included in the country’s first blacklist alongside other big-name operators such as bwin.party and bet365.

The eastern European country is currently in the process of launching new online gambling regulations, however it remains unclear whether the regulator plans to grant concessions to foreign operators.

Switzerland is also in the process of tabling a draft gambling bill and in August this year the Swiss Casino Association recommended that tougher measures to prohibit unlicensed gambling in the country be added.

The withdrawals come as Great Britain prepares for the start of its new licensing regime, now scheduled for 1 November, under which the Gambling Commission requires licensees to justify continuing operations in markets for which they are not licensed.