MORE INTERNET GAMBLING RESTRICTIONS IN FINLAND?

Sunday July 10,2011 : Will internet blocking and financial disruption be deployed?
 
Finland's state tri-opoly on internet gambling could benefit from the country's new coalition government, which has hinted at an intention to restrict still further any competition from foreign internet gambling companies.
 
Government spokesmen have not been specific in how this is to be achieved, but the overall intention is to restrict any incursions by foreign companies, thus strengthening the hold on the lucrative local market.
 
RAY executives have opined that controversial measures such as internet blocking, the restriction of advertising and the disruption of financial transactions with ‘illegal' foreign companies by Finnish financial institutions are possibilities that the government might introduce to protect its national gambling interests.
 
These tactics have been tried elsewhere with varying degrees of failure and success, but require substantial investments in enforcement staff, facilities and time, and risk the instigation of legal actions by other nations.
 
Gaming experts have pointed out that restricting competition is not generally good for business growth, and it denies local players the best odds available. This is especially true in the borderless world of the internet, where players can look for better promotions, odds and deals at a wide variety of online venues, and are resentful of interference in the manner in which they participate in a highly personal pastime.