Per lost more than seven million in just a few years. He gambled for six-figure sums for months on end – but was met with marketing for more gambling.
He sued the gambling company Betsson in a civil case.
The verdict in the Patent and Market Appeal Court was announced today: He wins the fight against Betsson’s owner company BLM Group.
Per played for an average of SEK 170,000 a month – and was rewarded with bonuses and received what he calls “aggressive” marketing by the gambling company. In the years 2009-2014, his gambling turnover was SEK 150 million and the net loss was SEK 7 million.
Per’s legal representative Jörgen Hettne has raised two issues; can a person with a gambling addiction enter into an agreement with gambling companies to play at all? And was the gambling company, which in this case was registered in Malta, allowed to provide games that were illegal in Sweden at the time?
Verdict: Wins
Per lost in the first instance – but is now winning in the Patent and Market Appeal Court.
The gambling company must pay back approximately SEK 5.8 million and the court costs.
– Per is overjoyed. It has been a long process for him since the crash in 2014. Since then he has been fighting for this, says lawyer Jörgen Hette.
– What the court also does is open the door for the verdict to be appealed to the Supreme Court. If it is a particularly important goal for law enforcement, they can open for HD, and they think there are reasons for this in this case, he says further.
“Never happened before”
According to lawyer Jörgen Hette, the verdict is unique.
– It is a completely unique judgment. It shows that it is actually possible for players who have lost a lot of money to recover their losses. It has never happened before.
Earlier, Per, who sued the betting company, said that he felt a responsibility to pursue the goal.
– Which protective interest does the court want to protect, is it the consumer or the gambling companies? he said to TV4 Nyheterna.