|
PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News
Poker News - Poker News
Search News:
Svenska Spel Retains Online Poker Monopoly Under Swedish Gaming ReorgThu, Dec 18th, 2008 @ 12:00am The Swedish National Gambling Consultation (Spel Utredningen) published a proposal earlier this week recommending that state-owned Svenska Spel retain its monopoly hold on what they consider the most problematic games: interactive games on the Internet which include online poker and bingo, as well as slot machines and casino activities. But a partial new model was proposed where sports betting licensing (odds games and tips games) could be opened to private operators by 2011, with the exception of betting on horse races. Because poker and casino activities carry an increased risk for problem gambling, the proposal stressed that the state monopoly should remain the sole operator of them. To prevent foreign operators from engaging with Swedish residents, the report also included proposals to introduce IP and payments blocking provisions. Under current Swedish law, foreign providers may not legally offer online gambling services to Swedish residents, only Svenska Spel.
The European Commission has for some time threatened to take Sweden to the European Court of Justice for denying other EU-registered gaming companies access to Sweden's market, as that right is guaranteed under EU rules. The Swedish government has rejected claims by the EC that it is violating European Union law, and has justified its state-owned monopoly, Svenska Spel, by saying that Swedish laws were proportionate, provided social protection and prevented crime. Some media is saying Sweden has continued to make these arguments to extend the time they collect the badly-needed revenues from their monopoly (click here for related article). On October 8, Sweden sent five questions to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) concerning the rights of government-owned online poker and Internet gambling monopolies to limit foreign competition under EC rules. Though critics say Sweden did so to head off an ECJ case, all agree that answers to these questions will be binding not only on the courts of Sweden, but also on the national courts of all European Member States. Therefore it will have a significant impact on the gaming market throughout all Europe. Experts estimate that the ECJ may take 18 to 24 months to issue answers to Sweden's questions. Read Related Articles:
More Poker News Articles
UIGEA Delayed 6 Months in Temporary Victory for Online Poker Days before the December 1 deadline for implementing the UIGEA, the U.S. government announced a six-month postponement of the poorly defined anti-gambling regulations. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board jointly released a statement moving the deadline for UIGEA compliance to June 1, 2010.
Fabrice Soulier Joins Everest Poker's Pro Roster To further strengthen its support for French poker in anticipation of the opening of that market, Everest Poker has signed renowned French poker pro Fabrice Soulier as its latest ambassador.
HHPT Co-Sponsors Bayou Poker Challenge Ladies Event Dec. 20 The HighHeelsPokerTour (HHPT), the first all women's poker tour launched on the East coast, will wrap up their 2009 schedule at Harrah's New Orleans on December 20th where they will co-sponsor the Ladies Event #14 no-limit Hold'em at 12 pm.
OPPAGA Reports on Florida's Online Poker Options Given that UIGEA permits individual states to regulate online poker, the Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) published a report this week presenting three options available to Florida State lawmakers in order to protect consumers from unlawful internet poker: regulate it, prohibit it, or carry on with the status quo pending federal legislation.
BC Poker Champion Arrested, Charged with Manslaughter Just two days after taking down the BC Poker Championships Main Event, Sophon Sek of Cloverdale, BC, was arrested in connection with one of the most storied crimes in the Province's history.
Local Businessman Bags European Poker Tour Vilamoura Bling The European Poker Tour rolled into the Casino Vilamoura last week, instantly generating the richest poker prize pool in the nation of Portugal's history.
Keikoan Captures Harvey's Lake Tahoe WSOPC Championship This week marked the finale of the biggest annual tournament series in Northern Nevada, the WSOP Circuit championship at Harvey's Lake Tahoe. While the Main Event saw only a modest turnout, it did boast of a tough final table, and a WSOP bracelet owner as the eventual champion.
WSOP Main Event Champ Joe Cada to Appear on Letterman The poker world will receive some late night attention tonight as "The Kid" Joe Cada, the youngest champion in the four decade history of the World Series of Poker Main Event, takes a seat next to embattled talk show host David Letterman.
First Korean Champ of Asia Pacific Poker Tour Crowned in Cebu Another stop on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour is in the books, this time it's the APPT Cebu in the Philippines, and for the very first time a Korean player has come out on top.
Pollack Done as Commish of World Series of Poker Just three days after crowning Joe Cada as the 2009 Main Event champion, officially closing the special 40th anniversary run of the World Series of Poker, Jeffrey Pollack has resigned his post as Commissioner of the WSOP. |
 Online Poker »
Poker News »
Blog Coverage
Top News
UIGEA Delayed 6 Months in Temporary...
Fabrice Soulier Joins Everest Poker's... HHPT Co-Sponsors Bayou Poker Challenge... Top Tournaments
|
IS
SWEDEN BREAKING EU LAW?
Discuss this article in our forum
Print this article
All Poker and free play poker content ©2010 PokerPages.com. All rights reserved.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, visit either: National Council on Problem Gambling or Gamblers Anonymous International Service