Responding to public backlash against online gambling, the Norwegian government has announced it is planning to implement a ban on online gambling sometime next year, similar to that recently instituted by the United States, according to a top legal advisor.
Speaking at an Internet gambling conference in Barcelona this week, Rolf Sims, legal advisor to Norway’s Ministry of Culture, spoke of his country’s efforts as presently “on the drawing board”, while adding that the anti-gambling community has “wind in its sails” in his country and that it would be “political suicide” to suggest legalizing online gambling.
Despite banning slot machines, Norway has continued to see a rise in the number of gambling addicts in its country, resulting in politicians seeking to curry favor with voters by adopting an “iron fist” approach.
Norway’s actions are being closely monitored by the European Union, which is itself trying to de-regulate and open up online gambling among its member nations. While Norway is not a member nation, it is a part of the European Economic Area.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) was recently put into place in the United States and effectively outlaws online gambling by making it illegal for banks and other financial institutions to process transactions destined for gambling purposes.
