Publication fined for poker advertising

More similar cases possible

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A fine was imposed on Tuesday on a free-distribution newspaper in the southeast of Finland for printing advertisements of foreign gaming operators.
      The South Karelia District Court in Lappeenranta found that Marko Haapahunta, the managing director of the company that publishes the Metropoli newspaper, who is also the paper’s editor-in-chief, violated Finnish legislation on lotteries when he allowed the advertisements to be printed in the paper.
      It was the first time that such a case has come to court in Finland.
     
The precedent-setting case was followed closely at the office of the Finnish Prosecutor General. According to State Prosecutor Mika Illman, there are at least three similar cases under consideration for prosecution.
      Illman says that decisions on possible charges should come sometime in the spring. There could be many trials, as the Ministry of the Interior has also asked police to look into advertisements that have been run in poker publications.
     
The Lappeenranta case involved an issue of Metropoli which appeared in the autumn of 2008, containing several advertisements for poker games and betting.
      Under Finnish lottery legislation, both organising unauthorised gambling and advertising it are unlawful.
      The court sentenced Haapahuhta to 20 income-linked day fines, which amounts to EUR 200. In addition, Suomen Metrotuotanto, the publisher of Metropoli, was ordered to forfeit EUR 6,000 in advertising revenue.
     
Haapahuhta said on Tuesday that he would appeal the decision.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland´s Slot Machine Association prepared to launch online poker in 2010 (29.4.2009)
  EU court proposal would allow Finland to restrict online gambling (4.11.2008)

See also:
  Tax authorities going after foreign poker winnings (4.8.2008)
  Ministry plans to introduce guarantees against Internet gambling losses (16.1.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat