Comparing Gambling Policy Evolution in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden

Contemporary public policy and administration research implicitly explore policy evolution, which concerns the development of public policies within the politico-administrative system over time. This article examines a case study of policy evolution by comparing gambling policy evolution in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, following the emergence of online gambling at the turn of the millennium. An institutional perspective argues that the interplay between existing institutional arrangements and new challenges posed by online gambling constrain the development of gambling policies. As a consequence, distinct political responses and public governance structures on how to govern gambling have emerged.