Norway plans U.S. style online gambling ban

By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Norway is planning a U.S.-style effective ban on Internet gambling, the country's top legal advisers said.

Rolf Sims, legal adviser to Norway's Ministry of Culture, told an Internet gambling conference in Barcelona this week that the country was drafting laws that mirror the U.S. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA), which effectively outlawed online gambling by making processing of bet payments illegal.

"It's on the drawing board," Sims said.

"It is like the U.S. model banning transactions but we haven't seen the final rules," Norwegian Gaming Board legal adviser Thomas Helgesen told Reuters.

The Norwegian government is responding to the growing public backlash against gambling.

Gambling addiction in the Scandinavian country spiraled after slot machines were introduced and although the government has since banned certain types of machines, the problem persists, and an iron-fist approach is seen as a vote winner for politicians.

"The anti gambling lobby has got the wind in its sails," Sims said.

"The is mass opposition ... It would be political suicide for any government minister to suggest legalizing gambling."

Norway is not a member of the European Union but as part of the European Economic Area its actions are being watched closely by European member nations such as France, the Netherlands and Germany which are being pressured by Europe to open up their gambling markets.

According to Norwegian media reports the government is expected to make a decision on the legislation by spring next year.