Poker Anorak / Editor / 18 April 2008 /

IT'S Friday and, as ever, we turn to Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its plans to introduce a new amendment that would essentially leave Finland's online gamblers no place to play.

The amendment would give players the ability to claim back their losses during gambling.
Chances are that as a result online operators would not allow players from Finland to participate on their site.

But what about the Finland operating a state run online poker site, and not giving back those awful losses?

There is money in poker. Kuna's exploits on the Betfair tables are legendary.

And now the Poker Anorak learns that Finnish internet poker players are losing some 50 million euros per year to foreign game sites.

Fact. Well, at least it's what Ilkka Juva, communications manager for Veikkaus, the state's lottery and betting monopoly, says. And he does have a vested interest in painting a bleak picture.

He tells us: "We could gather the majority of the revenue flowing out. Certainly not all of it, but two thirds of 50 million euros could be attainable."

Any move would have some chance of success. Where there is money, there is Government interest. Such is that way of the world.

But how will Finland's online poker drive fit in with other new laws, such as Finnish MP Tommy Tabermann's desire to grant all employees a paid 7-day annual "love vacation".

There might be no time for poker. Although the nights in Finland are long...

Play online the whole night long...

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