Norwegian gambling authority moves to clamp down on operators

Lotteri-og Stiftelsestilsynet (Lotteritilsynet) has reiterated its hostility towards remote gambling operators, with the Norwegian gambling authority arguing that these sites illegally target national consumers.
The authority announced over the weekend that it had ordered Norwegian banks to block gambling payment transactions. Such a development is a blow to Nordic affiliates looking to make inroads in the Norwegian igaming market.
The Times of Malta reported that Lotteritilsynet toughened directive targets against six Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)-licensed operators – Betsson AB, Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), Kindred Group, L&L Entertainment, Dino Gaming Ltd and Co-Gaming LTD.
Further to authorising payment restrictions, Lotteritilsynet officials state that they have demanded that MGA take action against its licensed incumbents operating a protected gambling jurisdiction.
Sanctioned by a Norwegian all-party coalition in 2018, Lotteritilsynet was granted the right as a regulatory authority to monitor national banking transactions, protecting national consumers and the charitable/social contributions of state-owned gambling operator Norsk Tipping.
Lotteritilsynet’s new authoritative measures have been officially reprimanded by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), who have filed a complaint demanding that Norway’s Data Protection Inspectorate (DPI) investigate whether Lotteritilsynet payment blocking schemes, are in breach of consumer privacy protections.
Furthermore, closing 2018 Stockholm-listed Kindred Group Plc, one of the operators publically targeted by Lotteritilsynet, moved to file an Oslo High Court lawsuit against the regulator.
Kindred’s lawsuit accuses Lotteritilsynet of regulatory overreach on its business services, including the blocking payment transfers alongside sanctioning a ban on Kindred apps listing on the Apple App Store for Norway.