Norway to Say 'No Way' to Online Poker?

Norway to Say 'No Way' to Online Poker?

Friday, 23 November 2007

Whilst the US seems to be ready to drop the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, it appears the Norwegian government are heading in the opposite direction by proposing legislation to hinder online poker.

Whilst the US seems to be ready to drop the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, it appears the Norwegian government are heading in the opposite direction by proposing legislation to hinder online poker. The Norwegian Minister for Culture & Church Affairs, Tronde Giske, has tabled a motion which would stop financial institutions from processing transactions to and from online gambling operators. The legislation would be in effect from next year and would effectively render it impossible for Norwegians to fund their poker accounts.
The Norwegian online gambling market has been growing recently and the public have been increasing worried about potential 'problem gamblers'.
The legislation will essentially amend the existing laws, which currently already cover horse racing and lotteries. The changes would affect the Gaming Act, the Totalisator Act and the Norwegian Lottery Act, and would affect lottery, casino, horse racing and sportsbetting as well as online poker companies. What is interesting is that the state-owned gambling operator Norsk Tipping, which generated €1.16bn in revenue last year.
The proposal is now open to public comment until February 2008, after which it will be sent to Parliament to be passed into law during the spring session.



Tags: Poker News, Norway, to, Say, 'No, Way', to, Online, Poker?