Prowling Posse Plunder Private Poker Party

A group of Norwegians find that gambling abroad isn’t always as carefree as the brochures would have us believe.

Whilst strict gambling laws in Norway are actually under a long overdue review, those who enjoy the odd flutter in the frozen north must either use the state run lottery and sports betting site from Norsk Tipping, or travel abroad to enjoy their games of choice. Thankfully, geography being what it is, Norwegians who fancy, say, a nice game of poker can just pop across the border into neighboring Sweden, which they do.

Poker Players Pounced Upon

• State site allows them to bet on sports in Norway
• Other gambling restrictions apply
• Many Norwegians travel to Sweden to gamble

Unfortunately the most popular Swedish poker rooms are not official casinos, which are all state run, but private parties at which it is permissible under Swedish law to play cards for money. Swedish society frowns upon gambling and especially playing card games for money than Norwegians traditionally have, although Norwegian law may change to allow private parties of a similar nature with a maximum pot of some 5,000 Kroner ($800).

Private parties at which lots of money is present are, alas, somewhat prone to being less secure than your average casino (which still make airports look like lending libraries in security terms) and at Hogdal Bygdegard farm in the wee small hours of last Friday one of these poker parties found itself with four uninvited, but apparently heavily armed, guests. These masked men forced their way in and forced everyone else to lie on the floor.

“It is quite obvious,” says Tore Lomgard in the manner of one happy to tell the press something they already know (as befits head of police investigation in Stromstad) “that the criminals knew the poker game was playing for money and they planned to rob it.” but as yet the force has made no arrests which means perhaps Norwegians might be safe staying at home and using their government’s online bookmakers.