Whoever thought the U.S. should serve as a good example when it comes to
dealing with online casino gambling should have their head checked. And yes
Norway, that means you. If you haven't heard already, Norway's Culture and
Church Minister (you heard right...church minister) Trond Griske, is
moving forward with plans to dislocate payment companies as a means of banning
online gambling in Norway.
In what appears to essentially be a Norwegian version of the U.S. Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, Griske's plans are now open to public comment
until mid-February. That means Norwegian online gamblers unite! Let Parliament
know that Griske's proposal, which is being cloaked as a "clarification" (much
in the same way the UIGEA was buried within a Port Security bill), is really
just a means to protect Norway's gambling monopoly - Norske Tipping.
Online poker is certainly the most enjoyed online gambling activity in Norway
and Scandinavia. And it is common knowledge that some of the best poker players
in the world are coming from this region. It is estimated that about 1.5% of the
Norwegian population have a gambling addiction, which is rather high considering
Norway's overall size. Naturally, Griske is using these statistics in support of
his argument that problem gambling must be checked. The ironic thing about it
all is that all gambling operations in Norway, including casino style slot
machines, are controlled by the State-run Norske Tipping.
If Parliament passes Griske's "clarification", the only hope for Norwegian
online poker players will be the European Union. Although Norway is not a full
member of the EU, it is still a member of the EU market and falls within the
European Economic Area. The EU could potentially place restrictions on Norway if
they ban other European online gambling operators from doing business in Norway
but still allow Norwegians to gamble through Norske Tipping.