Norway

Online sports betting in Norway - Despite monopoly, offshore sportsbooks are available

Although close geographically, Scandinavian countries have independent and diverse regulations regarding gambling. Norway, in particular, had a staunch prohibition against all types of betting until wagering on horse race wagering was permitted in 1927 under the Norsk Rikstoto. However, other types of sports betting and gambling were permitted as late as 1992 with the implementation of the Gaming Scheme Act (GSA).

With this 1992 act, Norsk Tipping was officially authorized to carry out sports betting, national lotteries, poker games, and other forms of gambling. This legislation created the two state-owned monopolies currently controlling the entire gambling industry. The Norwegian Gambling and Foundation Authority (Lotteritilsynet) regulates both of these bodies, and profits go toward sports and cultural projects.

All this means that the two state-owned gambling bodies monopolize all iGaming and sports betting in the country. As such, foreign gambling or betting platforms cannot legally operate in the Norwegian market. However, this does not stop locals from wagering using many offshore casinos, betting sites, and sportsbook apps, as the legal restrictions placed by the Norwegian government apply to these operators rather than the individuals themselves.

While Norsk Tipping monopolizes sports bets and gaming, another state-controlled company, Norsk Rikstoto, controls the horse racing gambling market in the country. Both of these bodies are regulated by The Norwegian Gambling and Foundation Authority, and profits go toward sports and cultural projects.

So, in a nutshell, Norwegians can definitely place wagers on online betting sites operating with offshore licenses, such as the ones from Malta and Curacao. Money transfers to and from these foreign betting sites face some restrictions, not due to legality but to safeguard Norsk Tipping's domestic gambling monopoly. These transactions do not violate any laws, but consulting a tax expert is advisable to understand applicable tax regulations for significant winnings.

Many Norwegian bettors use third-party apps, like PayPal, ecoPayz, and e-wallets, to process payments. Although local authorities theoretically prohibit these activities, the government has yet to take action against offenders.

Sports betting legislation in Norway

With the implementation of the Gaming Act in 1992, the Norwegian government officially legalized online sports betting. However, they anointed only two state-owned sites as the permitted bodies in the same act. Through Norsk Tipping, bettors can enjoy an array of sports betting, including eSports markets, whereas Norsk Rikstoto offers locals the opportunity to bet on horse races.

When foreign sports betting apps and sites are included in the mix, the wagering options and available markets are tenfold, and there aren’t really any categories of bets that are not offered.

While DFS is illegal in the country, Norwegians can still access regular fantasy games, such as Elitserien Fantasy, which covers the nation’s top-tier soccer league.

Recent updates from the Norwegian sports betting scene

• January 25, 2024: The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and the Norwegian Industry Association for Online Gaming (NBO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate to establish a safe licensing and regulatory regime framework focusing on betting integrity provisions. Both organizations advocate for Norway to move away from its gambling monopoly system.

• September 25, 2023: Lotteritilsynet oversees nine banks to enforce a ban on processing transactions with unlicensed gambling and sports betting operators. Banks must comply with national laws prohibiting transactions with sites lacking a license under the Norway Gambling Act, Section 5.

• September 18, 2023: The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) presses Norway to transition from its monopoly system to a licensing model for online gambling, citing examples from Sweden and Finland. EGBA Secretary-General Maarten Haijer suggests this shift would address concerns like consumers using unlicensed sites.

• September 14, 2023: Lotteritilsynet reveals that 15 gambling operators, including Kindred's Unibet, will exit the Norwegian market. Other withdrawing betting operators include Bet365, Come On, Betsson, Betsafe, and Nordicbet.

All legal gambling options in Norway - Offshore platforms broaden the field

Through Norsk Tipping, NO bettors can enjoy various online casino games, including virtual slots, live tables, and card games. If you broaden the view to the offshore online casinos that accept Norwegians as customers, the selection of real-money games will be drastically larger.

Online poker is also fully legal in Norway. However, as Norsk Tipping does not yet offer an online poker platform for Norwegians, local poker enthusiasts have been forced to play at foreign poker sites.

The national lottery is also available through Norsk Tipping.

Other gambling-related news & stories from Norway

• April 4, 2024: Norway's stringent gambling regulations could affect international players using Norwegian bank accounts for online betting, as European gambling laws differ significantly by country, with some requiring operators to have a license and others being more permissive.

• February 13, 2024: Norway's Gambling Authority, Lotteritilsynet, orders Tiergarten Marketing Ltd, the operator of popular entertainment content platform Schpell.com, to halt all marketing in the country due to violations of gambling advertising laws after Norwegian influencers advertised online casino games on live stream broadcasts.

• November 27, 2023: Tonje Sagstuen, a seasoned executive, is promoted to managing director at Norsk Tipping after serving as interim director since September 2023.

• October 23, 2023: Norway proposes new legislation to enforce DNS blocking, aiming to safeguard its gambling monopoly by blocking access to offshore gambling websites targeting local consumers. The measure, approved by the cabinet after two years of deliberation, aims to strengthen Norway's control over its gambling monopoly.

• June 5, 2023: The Borgarting Court of Appeal upholds the Norwegian gambling regulator's order for Kindred to stop offering unlicensed gambling services. This ruling comes after a prolonged legal battle between Kindred and Norwegian authorities. The court supported the regulator's position and rejected Kindred's appeal, requiring the company to cover the legal costs incurred by the Ministry of Culture and Equality.