Online Poker Back on Agenda in Finland?Department of Communication and Culture Suggests Government-Run Online Poker |
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According to the Finnish government website, Virtual Finland, the culture and sports minister Stefan Wallin has said that the government should run an online poker service in order to more tightly control the market and protect its citizens.
This comes after last week’s academic report recommendation that the government could force financial institutions or online poker sites to refund the losses of online poker players.
The minister also said that if the Slot Machine Association (Ray) or Veikkaus, the state's lottery and betting monopoly, took responsibility for online poker, the revenue increase could be used to fund public services and fight gambling addiction.
The minister is quoted as saying, “It is difficult to halt the rise in the popularity of online poker. It would be better to offer players a legal and responsible alternative. Responsibility would mean setting an 18 age-limit and requiring players to identify themselves.”
Wallin pointed to the example of Svenska Spel, the Swedish state-owned lottery and gaming group, which has provided online poker services over the last number of years.
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