Poker is often associated with European or American casinos, but the game’s popularity stretches beyond those regions. One could easily find top-quality poker rooms in Macau or Singapore. Moreover, online poker’s success has further elevated the game to new heights. Gamblers worldwide now play poker from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
But as the game becomes more available, governments are looking for ways to regulate the market. Many were not ready for the surge in online gambling that took place at the turn of the century. With society adapting to the new digital era, governments also take online regulation a lot more seriously. This text will focus on the different approaches to poker around the world.
Strict Regulations
Plenty of countries have taken a very strict approach to poker regulation. Though one could easily find a breakdown of the best poker sites by country, one must also consider the legality and restrictive measures that said countries are taking. One of the most difficult aspects of poker in the United States is considering the laws that govern poker in each state. The reason is that state laws differ regarding the classic casino game.
The US has a bizarrely strict approach to poker, specifically, an approach that doesn’t apply to iGaming in general. While sweepstake casinos and memecoin websites are free to operate in most states, online poker is only legal in eight of the fifty that comprise the USA. Fans of poker have naturally taken issue with these strange policies. But there doesn’t seem to be any plan to change the federal laws regarding online poker soon.
Germany is another country that has a strict approach to iGaming. However, the German government has legalized online poker and most forms of internet gambling. The German Interstate Treaty on Gambling brought in some great reforms regarding any online casino activity, many of which were rejected by European courts. The treaty ensures that German players have free and open access to the games of their choice. However, many have criticized the law as being too restrictive.
Lax Regulations
Some governments have taken a laissez-faire approach to online poker regulations, that is, they’ve barely implemented any restrictive or regulatory measures at all. Being so lax in one’s approach to online casinos can be just as bad as being overly restrictive. It can be worse in many cases, considering that cybercrime has seen such a massive surge recently. Let’s look at the problems with relaxed regulation measures.
One popular approach to regulation is prohibition. Many might see this as the pinnacle of strictness. In truth, banning online casinos only serves to open up a large foreign market. Most countries that restrict online gambling do so by prohibiting local operators. That means that their players are only able to gamble using offshore casinos. A lot of offshore casinos are governed and regulated by reputable organizations. But there are also plenty that have some fairly sketchy backgrounds, yet are allowed to operate because of the vague laws surrounding the bans.
The other side of lax regulations is that countries may have legalized online casinos, but they’ve not imposed severe restrictions. This allows the poker room operators to get away with unbalanced matchups and remove any deposit limits. This approach risks new and inexperienced players losing it all to higher-skill poker experts. In a time when the world of businesses and finance is going through a revolution; we have to be sure that everyone is safe from harm.
Finding a Balance
The goal is to find a balance between regulation and free market access. Online poker rooms are a business like any other; and a company must be allowed to thrive. However, it is also true that iGaming comes with certain risks for participants. That is when it is the government’s job to step in and ensure that the business operates with a certain level of care. It may be a surprise to learn that Finland is pushing the boundaries of regulation to strike a balance between restriction and freedom.
Finland’s iGaming market has a reputation for being one of the most heavily regulated in Europe. But the current system has allowed companies like Paf to operate freely, balancing free market operation and strict regulation. The company’s SVP has spoken on the problem of over-regulation, claiming that he doesn’t see it as the major problem that many are making it out to be. He believes heavily regulated markets are often better because they ensure a certain level of safety and security.
There are still many who would prefer a more balanced approach to online poker regulation. The players themselves call for reforms, hoping they will one day be free to play their favorite card game. Poker is a game of skill, so unlike most casino games, there are deeper considerations to consider when regulating the game.
