With the imminent entry of Turkey into the European Union, the Swedish based online gambling provider, Betsson AB, has had their sights on gaining a surge in business from cross border competition in the near future. However, Betsson's hopes have been somewhat dashed considering the current legislation that Turkey has proposed in what appears to be an attempt to protect the partially state-run gambling monopoly, IDDAA.

Betsson derives approximately 20% of their online gambling revenues from Turkey, while their subsidiary software company, Net Entertainment, derives approximately 15% of their online revenues from online casinos, poker rooms and sports betting sites targeting the Turkish market. Although the passing of the proposed legislation would still allow Betsson and Net Entertainment to do business in Turkey, the group will certainly not gain as much non-sequestered business as they were hoping to.

The European Union has been a fierce battleground recently between online gambling operators and several state-run gambling monopolies, such as those in France and Italy. And while some countries like Italy have taken steps to better embrace internet sports betting and online casinos, others like France, appear to be going the opposite direction. Since the EU has not taken steps to enforce its policy that free movement of trade and services between all EU member states must be honored, the likelihood of Turkey getting by with their new legislation is strong.

Despite these developments, Betsson Online is optimistic. Company CEO, Pontus Lingwall, said in a press statement that this type of protective legislation being introduced by Turkey has proven to be of benefit to Betsson in the past. With revenue growth and profit doing very well, the company is confident their place in the Turkish betting industry will remain formidable. Business in Scandinavia remains very strong (where some could say Betsson holds their own monopolistic presence) and player sign-ups at online casinos CasinoEuro and CherryCasino are at target goals.