Viktor Blom Gets Hit With $150M Tax Bill by Swedish Tax Authority

Viktor Blom Gets Hit With $150M Tax Bill by Swedish Tax Authority

Viktor Blom (Isildur1) may owe Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Authority) roughly $150 million worth of taxes, as stated in the newspaper Dagens Industri. Blom might be under investigation, following the revelation of his online identity “Isildur1” last weekend at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (previously revealed here on Casino Smack in our post: Isildur1 (Victor Blom) vs Brian Hastings: M Cheating). Blom’s move to London from last year might not have any effect in preventing the Swedish Tax Authority from pushing through with investigations.

The Swedish Government Puts the Hit on Online Gambling


Swedish government authorities have extended their intention to infiltrate online gambling sites operated outside their jurisdiction. Swedish residents are required by law to pay gambling tax unless winnings were played on European Union or Svenska Spel sites. The newspaper alleges that Skatteverket will be searching online poker companies where Blom was associated with prior to his deal with PokerStars.

Winnings are taxable for professional Swedish players playing outside the European Union. A 30% tax rate is imposed on each winning, and this ruling may technically subject Blom to paying an estimated amount of $150 million after winning around $4.5 billion under the name “Isildur1” on Full Tilt Poker, should the Swedish government ends up collecting.

According to Dag Hardyson of the Swedish Tax Authority believes that Full Tilt Poker is outside the European Union, which will give them reason to collect taxes on his winnings. Erik Bonman, another spokesperson said that “Internet poker is something we’re looking into and I know this poker player, but I can’t comment on whether we’ve opened a case.”

Viktor Blom: Rise and Fall


Before the end of 2009, Blom, 20 turned $2,000 to $2 million after high-stakes battles with players such as Tom “durrrr” Dwan, Phil Ivey, Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond, Brian Townsend and Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo. In December of that year, he lost over $4 million to Brian Hasings, a CardRunners instructor which caused him to disappear after drying his Full Tilt Poker account.

Apart from the estimated $2.5 million overall losses on Full Tilt Poker, he now faces an additional estimated $150 million to the Swedish government. TwoPlusTwo forum posters react stating: “How is it that these tax people can assumedly be competent and well-educated when it comes to numbers and money yet fail miserably at learning/grasping elementary gambling concepts? For an actual educated official to suggest that he owes $150 million is just such outrageous infantile buffoonery on stilts on parade, it is ridiculous.”

Gambling is non-taxable in London, where Blom is currently residing, but nonetheless, he is considered as a Swedish national, and may be required to remit the one amount of one billion Kroner due to the government, amounting to roughly $149 million. Viktor Blum is believed to have been hiding his identity to evade the brutal taxes in Sweden, especially if we talk about million-dollar amounts.

Blom will not be alone in paying these 30% tax bills, as there have been professional poker players from Sweden who have been subjected to paying these taxes, such as former World Poker Tour champion Martin de Knijff and Daniel Larsson.

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