The Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) has passed legislation designed to prevent offshore gambling operators from advertising to Norwegians via the internet and satellite television.

Power has now been granted to the Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet) to order internet service providers and media companies to prevent access to illegal marketing. Earlier this month Parliament also granted the authority powers to order domestic television channels to block adverts from offshore operators. 

Though Norsk Tipping has a monopoly on legal gambling in Norway, and other operators were already prohibited from advertising in the country, offshore companies have long been getting around the ban by advertising online and satellite television. 

Commenting on the news Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, Abid Q. Raja, said:

“This [amendment] will reduce the scope of gambling advertising, and may in turn help reduce the number of problem gamblers.

“[Previously] we have not had the necessary tools to enforce the advertising ban on foreign operators. But with this provision, the Media Authority is empowered to impose a duty on internet owners and distributors to prevent access to advertising for illegal gambling.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Together with the unlicensed operator payment ban, which took effect on 1 January, these new advertising controls will make life much harder for offshore operators looking to target the small but lucrative Norwegian market. 

With the regulated Swedish market turning into something of a nightmare for operators, thanks to incessant overregulation and political meddling, Denmark clamping down hard on unlicensed operators, and Norway now effectively off-limits, the once golden Nordic region is rapidly losing its shine for many operators. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020