Sharing a peninsula with Finland and Sweden, Norway is a country located in northern Europe with an interesting gambling industry. Gambling has a long history in Norway. Online gambling is tightly controlled, and services are largely restricted to state-controlled operators. Foreign operators are generally blocked or restricted, and rules can change, so check the current position. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Overview
Gambling first started in Norway at the beginning of the 20th century. Gambling in the country is governed by national gambling legislation. The state controls all gambling activity in Norway, and only two monopolies can offer games of chance. The industry is very restricted with the government in full control of operations.
The monopolies include Norsk Tipping AS and Norsk Rikstoto. Norsk Rikstoto provides horse race betting. Norsk Tipping AS offers players access to casino games, sports betting, scratch cards, instant gaming options, and lottery.
There is an exception to the gambling rules where non-profit organizations are concerned. Some non-profit organizations can receive a charity gambling licence.
Land-Based Casinos
When it comes to physical gaming, the options are limited. There are no real casinos in the country. In the past, Norway offered slot machines in all types of places, including grocery stores and pubs, with the venues acting as slot halls. The rules were later changed, and that option was removed.
Some gaming properties offer interactive video terminals, but you won’t find any live dealer tables, card games, and other options.
Licensing
Gambling licensing is provided by a national regulator, and a licence is required to offer gambling services in the country. The state-owned operators hold special gambling licensing, and private commercial companies generally cannot receive a licence.
There is also an exception for online bingo gaming. Some non-profit organizations may be able to receive a licence for limited forms of iGaming.
Tax treatment of gambling operations and winnings can differ by operator and country and can change, so check the current rules or take tax advice.
Player Protection
Norway has a very strict gaming environment that is government controlled. Player protections apply to the licensed state-run operators, but they may not apply to offshore casinos, including those listed on this page.
In recent years, Norway has updated its gambling legislation. The updated rules give the regulator more control, including the ability to order DNS blocking of the websites of unlicensed operators and to issue administrative fines.
The country works to stop offshore sites from offering services to players, and measures have included restrictions on payments to unlicensed gambling providers. Playing with offshore providers may be restricted or prohibited under local law, and the position can change, so playing could carry legal risk. Check the current rules before you play.
.png "Powered By Spinlogic Gaming"){kind=icon}
