We calculate the energy of a Yang-Mills vortex as function of its magnetic
flux or as the Wilson loop surrounding the vortex center. The calculation i
s performed in the one-loop approximation. A parallel line with a potential
as function of the Polyakov at nonzero temperatures is drawn. We find that
quantized Z(2) vortices are dynamically preferred though vortices with arb
itrary fluxes cannot be ruled out.