Sweden Considers Expanding, Combining Online Poker Operations

Sweden is eager to attract players away from private online sites in order to prevent undesirable economic and social effects.

A Swedish study has resulted in proposals to combine state-run poker sites into a governmentally-operated online poker network. Sweden already has Svenska Spel, a poker site controlled by the government and operating under rules of social resposibility.

The study was designed to find reasons gamblers would choose private sites over state operations. Predictably, larger tournaments with bigger prize winnings, and special signing bonuses were the most common reasons found.

By linking Svenska Spel with other goverment poker sites, tournament size and prizes can be substantially increased.

The problem of combatting bonuses is more difficult. State sites cannot offer bonuses directly, as it would violate laws against encouraging gambling. However, the Swedish-run sites could outsource that part of the operation to other national sites, such as the online poker rooms run by Austrian Lotteries. Any such transfer would require an agreement to abide by Swedish social responsibility rules.

Sweden is eager to attract players away from private online sites in order to prevent undesirable economic and social effects, which it sees coming from profit-driven sites.

Swedish officials note that pooling players will give them a chance to compete effectively with private sector casinos, and that the international cooperation may result in international pooling of players in the near future.