Norway Passes Payment Blocking Legislation

Norway's controversial online gambling payment blocking laws have just received Royal assent and are slated to come into operation later this year.

Back in July last year, EFTA Surveillance Authority, the body charged with enforcement of European Economic Area trade rules warned Norway that its proposed laws could be in contravention of EU laws on the basis that they were protectionist in nature.

It's fair to say that since then plenty of water has passed in the bridge with regard to legal developments concerning exactly how protectionist governments are able to be when it comes to online gambling. For example, the Santa Casa case in Portugal has opened the door for governments wanting to ban foreign online gambling operators where they can prove it is in the public interest to do so.

Norway's new laws will come into effect June 1 2010 - the same date set for America's UIGEA implementation, and is similar in principle to the US laws. Payments facilitation to operators not licensed in Norway will become illegal and a prosecutable offense.

Apparently operators in the region with significant Norwegian facing business have already opined that the measures will not have a significant effect on business. Betsson have stated that they will ignore any requirements to screen transactions arising from the legislation.