Finland Considers State Ownership of Online Poker Sites

Poker sites have attracted large numbers of Finnish players, and government officials would rather see those revenues being paid to the state than leaving the country

Finland is considering following the lead of Norway into the world of state-owned online gambling sites. Experts estimate that almost $80 million is spent by Finnish citizens on foreign online casinos annually.

Poker sites have attracted large numbers of Finnish players, and government officials would rather see those revenues being paid to the state than leaving the country.

Ilkka Juva, Communications Manager for Veikkaus, the Norwegian state-owned gaming organization, was quoted as telling a Finnish news agency that up to 2/3 of the money leaving Finland could be redirected to the state if Finnish online poker sites existed.

Swedish and Norweigan studies indicating that state sites lead to far less incidence of problem gambling than foreign sites also provide an argument to set up state ownership. Still, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health remains strongly opposed to any expansion or legalization of gambling within the country.

This sets up a major debate within the Finnnish government, as Stefan Wallin, the Minister of Culture and Sport, has repeatedly called for changes that prevent the growth of problem gambling as well as rescue some of the revenues being lost to foreign operators.

Presently, an Internal Affairs Committee is reviewing recommendations and will make any sugestions to the Finnish parliament by the end of the year.

Hopefully, the examples of neighboring countries, and the lessons learned by the prohibitions suffered by the U.S. and other countries, will lead Finland to make the wise decision to promote internal ownership of online gambling sites.