Norwegian Gambling Enjoys Popularity in Spite of Government Restrictions
25/06/08 08:18 Filed in: General News
Although Norway doesn’t condone various, existing gambling methods a recent poll has shown that government restrictions and illegal status doesn’t necessarily equate a lower numbers of players. With approximately €961 million being pumped into the industry and 82.9% of these funds currently diverted to foreign businesses it may be time for the country to take a hard look at their current policies.
The Norwegian Gambling Commission polled over ten thousand citizens between the ages of sixteen and seventy-four, coming to statistical evidence that the nation’s gamblers aren’t declining but rather increasing with time. Findings reflected a 6.1% increase on betting practices overall during 2007 and an estimated total of 244,000 online gamblers in Norway. A little less than half of the sample group gambles from within the legal Norwegian Lotto but the rest of the numbers were constituted of players making use of internet casino, poker and sports betters who are essentially betting from outside of national law.
Alongside these findings the Commission also reported that more than half of the phone calls received by the gambling addiction hotline are concerned with internet poker problems. In light of the survey the Norwegian government is going to have to address current legislature and its failure to provide safe gambling venues for the population.
The Norwegian Gambling Commission polled over ten thousand citizens between the ages of sixteen and seventy-four, coming to statistical evidence that the nation’s gamblers aren’t declining but rather increasing with time. Findings reflected a 6.1% increase on betting practices overall during 2007 and an estimated total of 244,000 online gamblers in Norway. A little less than half of the sample group gambles from within the legal Norwegian Lotto but the rest of the numbers were constituted of players making use of internet casino, poker and sports betters who are essentially betting from outside of national law.
Alongside these findings the Commission also reported that more than half of the phone calls received by the gambling addiction hotline are concerned with internet poker problems. In light of the survey the Norwegian government is going to have to address current legislature and its failure to provide safe gambling venues for the population.
