Online casinos in Norway

Norway is one of the few countries in Europe where gambling is effectively monopolized by the state.

All types of gambling are strictly regulated, and only two state organizations - Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto - have the right to provide gambling services.

However, despite the restrictions, online casinos remain extremely popular among Norwegians who actively use foreign licensed platforms.

Legislative framework

Gambling in Norway is governed by three main laws:

1. The Totalisator Act (1927) - regulates betting on horse racing and the activities of Norsk Rikstoto.

2. The Gaming Act (1992) - sets the rules for Norsk Tipping (lotteries, bingo, sports betting).

3. The Lottery Act (1995) - determines the order of organizing lotteries and responsible games.

In 2022, a new unified law on gambling (Gambling Act 2022) was adopted, combining all three acts into a single regulatory system and strengthening state control.

The regulator is Lotteri- og stiftelsestilsynet (Lotteries and Foundations Authority), which:

controls licensing, advertising, and operator behavior;
blocks illegal sites and payment transactions;
monitors responsible gambling and measures against addiction.

Licensing and legal status

Currently, Norway does not have a commercial licensing system.

The right to organize gambling belongs only to the state, through:

Norsk Tipping - sports betting, lotteries, online games;
Norsk Rikstoto - horse racing bets.

All other operators, including international online casinos, cannot obtain a Norwegian license.

However, using foreign sites is not a criminal offence - players can legally participate in online gambling outside the country.

Online gambling

Online gambling in Norway is officially limited to the Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto platforms.

Both companies offer a basic selection of games:

slots, bingo, poker and roulette (Norsk Tipping only);
horse racing bets (Norsk Rikstoto);
sports betting, including live-betting.

However, due to limited assortment and comparatively low payouts, most players prefer offshore online casinos licensed in the EU (Malta, Curaçao, Gibraltar).

Popular offshore platforms among Norwegians:

Bet365, LeoVegas, Unibet, Casumo, Stake, ComeOn, 22Bet, SlotsMillion, MrGreen.

Norwegian authorities are actively fighting unlicensed sites:

banks are required to block transfers to gaming accounts abroad;
advertising of foreign casinos in the media and the Internet is prohibited;
since 2020, a register of blocked domains has been maintained.

However, locks are bypassed through VPNs and e-wallets, making control incomplete.

Taxation

The Norwegian system of taxation of gambling is built on the principle of state monopoly:

operators Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are wholly owned by the state;
their income is directed to sports, culture, charity and social programs;
income tax on operators - not charged, since they are state.

For players:

winnings from Norsk Tipping and Rikstoto are not taxable;
winnings from foreign operators are also exempt if the casino is licensed by the EU/EEA (e.g. Malta, Estonia, Sweden);
if the site is outside the EU (for example, Curacao) - winnings are taxed at 28%.

Land-based casinos

The opening of private casinos in Norway is prohibited.

Only small bingo halls working for charitable purposes are allowed, under the control of municipalities.

The nearest legal casinos for Norwegians are in neighboring Sweden and Denmark, which stimulates gaming tourism to the region.

Payment methods

Due to restrictions, banks and fintech companies are required to block transfers in favor of foreign casinos.

However, Norwegian players use alternative methods:

Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, Revolut;
Paysafecard and cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT);
virtual cards and e-wallets.

The "Financial Blocking Act" has been in place since 2023, strengthening oversight of gambling-related transactions.

Responsible play

Norway is considered one of the world leaders in the fight against gambling addiction.

The program "Ansvarlig spill" (Responsible game) includes:

strict limits on deposits and losses;
automatic warnings for risky behavior;
possibility of temporary blocking or self-exclusion;
access to counseling by psychologists through the Hjelpelinjen platform. no;
mandatory dependency risk alerts on all game interfaces.

In addition, Norsk Tipping applies a dynamic limit system that reduces access to games for signs of compulsive behavior.

Economic importance

Gambling in Norway has a socially oriented role:

all income from Norsk Tipping and Rikstoto goes to sports, cultural and charitable foundations;
about NOK 6 billion (€500 million) is distributed annually;
about 10% of the country's population regularly participates in lotteries or online games.

However, tight control limits the development of the sector - according to analysts, up to 60% of gaming turnover goes to offshore casinos.

Challenges and challenges

the rise in popularity of offshore online casinos;

inability to fully control crypto rates and VPN;
low competitiveness of the public sector;

pressure from the EU for non-compliance with free market principles.

In 2024, parliament discussed the possibility of introducing a regulated license for private online operators, but the decision was postponed until 2026.

Development prospects

The future of gambling in Norway is associated with phased market liberalization.

It is expected that:

by 2026, a limited licensing model may be introduced, following the example of Finland;
Norsk Tipping will maintain a monopoly, but will allow private partners;
the state will introduce a new system for monitoring online rates using AI and big data;
testing of the national platform for responsible gambling will begin.

Despite the restrictions, Norway remains one of the most stable and safe gambling markets in Northern Europe, where the balance between public protection and player interest is gradually shifting towards digital modernization and transparent regulation.