The Norwegian government have recently introduced a new legislation in order to crack down on the unlicensed market within the country. This legislation will unify Norway’s previous Lottery Act, Gambling Act and Totalisator Act, while still maintaining the market monopoly. This market monopoly is shared by Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, Norway’s top betting and lottery companies.
Putting the act in place
This new gambling act was first proposed by the Norwegian government back in June of 2020. The government then presented the proposal to the European Commission in August of the same year.
The minister of culture and gender equality, Abid Raja, said this new legislation would crack down on operators who are not permitted to offer gambling in Norway. He also stated “We are tired of foreign gambling companies that do not respect Norwegian law, and that do not operate with proper accountability measures. Therefore, the new law provides the Norwegian Lotteries Authority with new tools for detecting, reacting to and sanctioning violations of the law.”
Under the new act
Under this new act, marketing gambling without a Norwegian license is prohibited by all. The government said that this rule would apply not only to gambling operators, but also to customers and affiliates. Marketing gambling to children will now be a criminal offence under this act.
A blanket ban is also being introduced on gambling with credit cards in order to promote responsible gambling habits. Also, operators are obliged to introduce accountability measures, and any marketing to self-excluded gamblers will now be a criminal offence. These laws have been introduced to tighten and improve the way that gambling is carried out by all within the country.
