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Farewell, Finnish Backgammon

Posted By: Daniel Murphy
Date: Monday, 4 April 2011, at 3:51 a.m.

In response to a 1 April 2011 Finnish court decision¹ that came down hard on a poker tournament as illegal under the nation's gaming laws, Suomen Backgammon ry -- the Finnish Backgammon Association -- has apparently suspended operations. The association board will meet later this month to discuss under what conditions, if any, the association can continue.²

I see no official English translation and Google doesn't do Finnish well, but it seems the court was unmoved by arguments that there was an element of skill in poker, and ruled that the poker tournament was an illegal "lottery game." By the same measure, the backgammon association apparently believes, backgammon tournaments would likewise be illegal, and their organizers at risk of criminal prosecution.

¹ http://www.kko.fi/54305.htm

² http://www.suomenbackgammon.fi/keskustelu/viewtopic.php?t=1061&start=0

Messages In This Thread

• Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
  Daniel Murphy -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 3:51 a.m.
  • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
    fomalhaut -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 6:13 a.m.
  • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
    Phil Simborg -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 1:16 p.m.
    • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
      Leonardo Jerkovic -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 2:02 p.m.
    • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
      Henrik Bukkjaer -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 2:16 p.m.
      • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
        Chuck Bower -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 5:00 p.m.
        • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
          Henrik Bukkjaer -- Tuesday, 5 April 2011, at 4:02 p.m.
    • Bosnian example
      mtuhtan -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 3:15 p.m.
      • Bosnian example
        Phil Simborg -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 3:22 p.m.
    • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
      mikeg -- Wednesday, 6 April 2011, at 2:32 a.m.
  • Farewell, Finnish Backgammon
    Phlegethos -- Monday, 4 April 2011, at 5:44 p.m.