Is it a weird coincidence or did Swedish tax authorities grab the chance of cracking down on the famous poker player? Only a week had passed since Viktor Blom revealed his online identity as “Isildur1” and his contract with PokerStars during the Caribbean Adventure. This deal could cost him now a staggering $ 149 million, the amount, which the tax authority claim due.

The Swedish financial newspaper, Dagens Industri, reported that Swedish Tax Authorities are after all gambling winnings from country´s residents unless they result from sites based in the European Union or from the state-run Svenska Spel. Victor Blom actually moved to London, where gambling income is not taxable, but that would not spare him from a $149 million bill from the Swedish tax authorities, as in Sweden even poker hands that the player loses, are subject to a 30 % tax rate. Most of his famous plays Victor had on Full Tilt Poker, a non-EU site which is why the Tax Authorities hamper him. Did he anticipate this situation keeping his identity secret for such a long time?

The spokesman for the tax agency, Erik Boman, acknowledged that they were aware of Blom but he did not disclose any other details, whether or not Blom´s case was opened. Apparently it´s not for the first time the Swedish tax agency targets on poker players. Former World Poker Tour champion Martin de Knijff and Daniel Larsson received as well unexpected tax bills, though at a much smaller amount.