Pokersite by Swedish government

[Charon]

I heard that in Sweden the government has it's own online poker/gaming site which is a success. I'm wondering if some of you could give me some links with more information about this (or could tell me). Are games of chance for instance legal in Sweden? Is there a monopoly of the government? Is a motive of the government to initiate an online site to reduce gambling addiction? Does it work? Etc.

I would really appreciate it if some of you could give me more info.

Thanks.

[cbloom]

Welcome to teh interweb

[TheMetetron]

[ QUOTE ]
I heard that in Sweden the government has it's own online poker/gaming site which is a success. I'm wondering if some of you could give me some links with more information about this (or could tell me). Are games of chance for instance legal in Sweden?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, seeing blackjack tables in all of the nightclubs is common. I didn't spend enough time in bigger Swedish cities but at least in Denmark having combo slot machine places / minimarts was common.

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Is there a monopoly of the government?

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For online gambling hypothetically yes. For casino gambling (not sure about poker) at least. I was turned away from Boss Media casino for living in Sweden which was a banned country (though Boss Media is located in Sweden if I'm not mistaken, at least the number I called was).

[ QUOTE ]
Is a motive of the government to initiate an online site to reduce gambling addiction? Does it work? Etc.

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No, it is the motivation of the government to take some more taxes. Socialism is fun.

[TheMetetron]

The site is http://www.svenskaspel.se

Let me know if you need anything specific translated.

[Charon]

Thank you very much, Metetron.

I have a few more questions if you don't mind.

Is the official reason that the government lauches the online room to reduce gambling addicting? I think that it must, because otherwise they would be in deep trouble concerning EU law, which prohibits monopolies if they don't have a very good reason for it.

So, assuming that they launched the room to reduce/control gambling addicting, are they succesful in doing so? Are there any numbers known about this? Do a lot of Swedes who played at other online sites now play at the Swedish site?

Any numbers regarding the influence of the government-run site in relation to gambling addiction would be very useful.

Thanks again.

[TheMetetron]

As far as I know it has absolutely nothing to do with gambling addiction and is pretty much wow more revenue... let's do it. I have no idea how it gets by EU rules as well.

[RollinHand]

"So, assuming that they launched the room to reduce/control gambling addicting"

Yeah that's the feeling I'm getting from them, not too sure about poker but as a whole the company like to promote them self in that way. Which is total bs obv, but then again Sweden is know as little Cuba. :--D

I belive their site attracts alot of new players, possibly older ppl that really never got into internetpoker. This site makes it easier for ppl that arn't as internet savy to deposit and play. I have never played there and probably won't fwiw.

[walkertullaris]

I am from Sweden so i will say some things about the issue /images/graemlins/smile.gif

In sweden there is a monopoly on gambling. All casinos and sport betting etc is driven by the state. It is even illegal to advertise for other gambling companies loated abroad (still some swedish channel advertise since they broadcast from England, funny isn't it?)

"Svenska Spel" is the name of the gambling company owned by the goverment. The reason they opened casinos and online poker is that they wanted for money.

You have to when registring state how many hours, how much money you can transfer under a given time period etc. But many other sites already got that so the "Gambling Adiction" argument is just silly. "Svenska spel" advertices for more than 100 times the amount they give to treating gambling adiction.

But hopefully the new EU statements about Betting monopoly against other states like Italy will have some affect(the Swedish goverment ofcourse put ofcourse put the hands over their ears and screams "I can't hear you" when someone point this out /images/graemlins/wink.gif ).

The bottomline for opening an online poker site is the same reason all other sites have opened. They want our money /images/graemlins/wink.gif