Norway is known for producing some of the best home-bred poker players in the world. Strangely enough, Norwegian citizens are not allowed to participate in online gambling. In fact, the country recently put a law into effect that makes it illegal to place a wager to a casino over the internet. Due to this action, there has been a lot of ruling, resistance and fallout.
Why the Ban?
Right about now, online gambling is at the height of its popularity. However, like many other areas, times are not so exciting for players in Norway. The country’s lawmakers are fearful of internet gambling for some of the same reasons stressed by gambling opponents in the U.S. One of the biggest gripes shared by both nations is the concern that some players will develop compulsive personalities and be forced to deal with addiction. Another concern is getting a handle on fraudulent casinos and enforcing age restrictions to prevent the youth from getting involved. While these are certainly matters that need to be addressed, Norwegian proponents are making the argument that it simply isn’t enough to completely prohibit online gambling. Similar to players in the U.S., many Norwegian citizens feel as if they are being unfairly penalized because of a few bad apples who will just find other ways to fuel their addiction. Players in Norway are fighting for a change in hopes of the ban on internet gambling being lifted for good.
A New Hope?
As of now, Norway is teetering on the idea of implementing laws similar to legislation in the United States. The UIGEA is very sketchy but legislation is certainly not in the favor of U.S. players looking to gamble online. In fact, there are a number of states that completely forbid online gambling, Michigan, New Jersey and the gambling capital of Nevada included. It is also illegal for financial institutions that service internet casinos to do business with American players. This makes it equally difficult and often impossible for both U.S. and Norwegian citizens to get online and try their luck at the plethora of online casino games available to other players. Unfortunately, these restrictions have led several players to find illegal ways to obtain the thrills they seek. It would probably be much easier to simply allow citizens to play at their leisure and regulate online casino games in the manner that some many other countries have.
While Norway lawmakers are busy trying to enforce the rules, its citizens are off trying to find ways to gamble any way they can. It is a very fine line because players who are caught could be charged with a serious offense. The country seems to be looking out for the safety of its citizen on one hand, yet terribly frustrating several more on the other. The tension in Norway will likely carry on for sometime until the country reaches a viable compromise regarding the issue of internet gambling.
