NORWAY: NEW GAMBLING LAW PROPOSED TO CRACK DOWN ON INT’L OPERATORS

Abid Raja, Norweigan Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, has proposed a new Gambling Law, aimed at cracking down on unlicensed international gambling operators and affiliates targeting Norwegian consumers. 

The proposed law aims to tidy up existing legislation, replacing the three fragmented laws currently in place; the 1995 Lottery Act, 1992 Gambling Act, and 1927 Totalisator Act. It would also protect and strengthen the monopolies of state-owned lottery Norsk Tipping and racing betting operator Norsk Rikstoto. 

In addition to enshrining strong social responsibility and safe betting requirements, the legislation would also ban the use of credit cards to fund gambling, and make the advertising of gambling to children, or those who have self-excluded, a criminal offense. 

Raja initially proposed an overhaul of the country’s gambling laws to the Stortinget legislative assembly in June 2020.

Discussing the proposals, Raja said: “I am pleased to finally be able to present the new gambling law, which is a milestone in the government’s work to prevent gambling problems and ensure responsible gambling.

“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. This includes, among other things, authority to impose infringement fines.

“Things are happening in the gambling field in Norway. The government has worked consciously for many years with gambling policy and this is yielding results. Foreign gambling companies and their payment intermediaries are withdrawing from the Norwegian market, their turnover is declining and advertising is no longer as easy to reach. This is a direct result of a targeted and successful policy in the area.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Norway’s archaic approach to gambling, with its state-owned monopolies, is looking increasingly ridiculous in today’s online, borderless digital reality. Indeed, in April, Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), warned that Norway’s approach is an abject failure, resulting in the country effectively losing control of its gambling market – with an estimated 66% of online gambling activity now taking place on international websites.