Online Gambling Battle Brewing in Finland

A week ago, we reported that Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs may propose an addition to the country’s gambling laws that would effectively ban online gambling in the country.  Now, it appears that the Ministry might have a fight on its hands…from another Ministry. 

Stefan Wallin, the Minister of Culture and Sports, is proposing a national online poker room for Finland in an effort to keep online poker revenues from leaving the country.  He points to Sweden’s government-run poker room, Svenska Spel, as an example of a successful federal online gaming endeavor.  Despite only allowing Swedes to join, Svenska Spel ranks in the top ten amongst all online poker rooms and networks in average number of cash game players.   

Wallin feels that a government-controlled poker room could be effective in stemming underage gambling and would be able to use the revenues to benefit the people of Finland.