There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic has changed the world that we have known forever.
Whilst that might be a bold statement, there is plenty of evidence to support the argument that things will be different for the foreseeable future.
COVID-19 obliterated the job market, with many across the globe having been made unemployed because of the virus.
In Scandinavia, by the end of March, four of the five Nordic nations had reported sharp increases, whereas Iceland increased ever so slightly compared to its geo-locational neighbours.
However, although many businesses had to suspend their operations or even close for good in the worst scenarios, one particular industry began to thrive as business boomed.
Online gambling has perhaps been one of the few sectors within the economy to have seen a rise, alongside entertainment giants like Netflix and Amazon, as more people were forced to stay at home and find something new to do.
Therefore, with a little more money in their pocket from furloughed salaries, as they were unable to engage in recreational activities such as going for a drink, going to the gym, Replokal Stockholm, or attending sporting events, many turned to online casinos and betting markets.
However, before it becomes a problem in Scandinavia, ministers of the Nordics have decided to implement new laws and have acted swiftly to ensure that things do not get out of hand.
The Swedish Government was the first to act, implementing a regulation that limited the amount bettors could deposit per week and also capped bonus offers during the current Coronavirus pandemic.
The weekly deposit limit is set at SEK 5,000 (£401/€459/$495), while the bonus cap is SEK 100.
However, this move does not appear to make much sense when reported figures from the country’s Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) reveal that the online gambling scene has been in decline.
The regulator stated that while casino play increased, the decline in sports betting was substantial enough to offset the growth, resulting in a 6% decrease in overall online betting and gaming for the year to date.
Finland‘s gambling industry is a little different to that of its Swedish neighbours, in that the sector is a state-owned monopoly, however it appears they shared the same concerns.
The Interior Ministry has decided to take things a little more seriously, as it has capped online gaming losses at €500 ($542.24) per month, down from the previous cap of €2,000.
Interestingly, gambling is actually frowned upon in Norway, although they do appear to take a blind eye to it as there are a number of unlicensed operators in the country offering potential punters to do the very thing the law prohibits them from doing.
However, some sites still offer an odds guide for Norwegian players who are interested.
Betting in Scandinavia is a heavily regulated industry, especially in countries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland; however, it seems there is still a way for potential players to access online casinos and sportsbooks to get their fix while the Coronavirus pandemic leaves everything in its wake.
