Ladbrokes is celebrating after an interim ruling from a Dutch appeal court may well have overturned a ban on the firm being able to accept telephone and internet bets from Dutch residents.

If the ruling is upheld, it could have significant implications for British betting companies and their ability to compete in the 400bn euro European gambling market.

For a number of years, Ladbrokes, alongside other bookmakers and gambling groups in the UK and overseas, had been fighting against the exclusive organised sports betting licence that Dutch company De Lotto possesses, which permits only De Lotto to provide games of chance to Dutch residents.

According to the interim judgement, the court is likely to overturn the ban on Ladbrokes on the basis that Dutch law conflicts with the freedom to provide services across EU members states’ borders.

Ladbrokes was first ordered to stop accepting bets from Dutch residents in February 2003.

De Lotto and the Dutch government have now been invited to submit further factual evidence over the next three months.

John O’Reilly, managing director of eGaming, believes that opening up a properly regulated, competitive European market will lead to better products, lower prices and greater choice.

O’Reilly said: “Ladbrokes firmly believes that, as a responsible and regulated UK bookmaker, it has a fundamental right under European Union law to provide its services freely cross borders – it now seems the Dutch courts agree with us.

“Betting and gaming is virtually the only monopoly industry left in the European Union and this judgement is another step towards free and fair competition.”