LAN Parties Are No Different Than Gambling in Sweden

[crashhelmet]

”LAN party tax” hits Swedish gamers

Sweden passes a law making it illegal to host a LAN Party without a permit and paying a tax.

”In the eyes of the law, these are slot machines. There is no difference,”

1–10 computers – $400
11–25 computers – $1,500
26 computers or more – $5,000

It says that a permit or tax for purely private gaming is not needed. How long will that last? How long before they're taxing XBL memberships?

[Gravekeeper]

Man, that quote is Rick Perry level. Lets see how long this stands before the inevitable backlash brings them to their knees.

[Andara Bledin]

Wow... I mean... Wow.

How in the nine hells are a network of computers like slot machines?

[HYHYBT]

They're both evil?

[SongsOfDragons]

They'll be taxing online gaming next >.< how the hell is this enforceable in a private home with a couple of friends playing Minecraft?

[s_stabeler]

it looks to me like it only applies to companies- they DO exclude "purely private gaming"- I think the idea is to tax companies that organise LAN parties fgor money- aka, thye organise a LAN party, you pay to attend. If it is just a couple of people hooking ther computers up to play a agme, it doesn't apply. If it is a big LAN party where you have to pay $5 to pay, it is subject to the permit.

[Greenday]

They'll be taxing online gaming next >.< how the hell is this enforceable in a private home with a couple of friends playing Minecraft?

Right in the OP it says it doesn't apply to private home parties.

[crashhelmet]

it looks to me like it only applies to companies- they DO exclude "purely private gaming"- I think the idea is to tax companies that organise LAN parties fgor money- aka, thye organise a LAN party, you pay to attend. If it is just a couple of people hooking ther computers up to play a agme, it doesn't apply. If it is a big LAN party where you have to pay $5 to pay, it is subject to the permit.

But isn't that already taxable as a business?

Where do they draw the line on it? What happens if I throw a LAN party at my house and charge everyone $5 to cover the cost of food, drinks, and possibly even the spike in my utility bill?

The law may be designed to go after the large parties, like DreamHack, but it doesn't say that private parties aren't exempt. They're just not identified directly. It's open to interpretation.

The worst part is the cost of the fine increases with each tier.
A standard 8 person LAN party would cost $50 a head to pay the fine alone.
If you had 12 people, it's $125 a head.
Want to run a 20-man WoW raid? $75 a head
40 man? Back up to $125 a head.

[SongsOfDragons]

Right in the OP it says it doesn't apply to private home parties.

Phew!! I misconstrued that to mean sole playing not LANning with mates.

[Greenday]

Phew!! I misconstrued that to mean sole playing not LANning with mates.

It'd end up a total nerd riot. FREE LAN PARTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[siead_lietrathua]

Where do they draw the line on it? What happens if I throw a LAN party at my house and charge everyone $5 to cover the cost of food, drinks, and possibly even the spike in my utility bill?

no.. because it's still a private party hosted by a regular citizen, not a business. really, there are enough loopholes in the wording (at least as it shows in the article) to get around it. internet cafes are exempt, so do them there. or organize it online as an "invite only private party".

it really looks like the only things effected will be tourneys, which does suck, but there's probably another loophole if it's a charity tourney.