Recent developments
Online gambling
Norway's desire to regulate and willingness to throw its borders open to licensed foreign online gambling sites, then, is a major overhaul and, while the exact nature of the legislation is yet. The organization supervises and regulates all kinds of gambling that are legally present in Norway up to date, including lotteries, slot machines, horse race betting and sports betting, raffles, bingo and lotteries, and online gambling. Most types of gambling are currently illegal on the territory of Norway. There are basically two companies, which have a governmental permission to offer gambling services to the country's citizens – Norsk Rikstoto and Norsk Tipping.
As for many other regulators/jurisdictions, Norway faces challenges regarding illegal cross-border marketing of foreign online gambling operators. In 2010, Norway implemented payment-blocking in order to stop money transfers between foreign gambling operators and Norwegian customers. The effects of this measure are still being evaluated. Norway is participating in the expert group established by the European Commission on the basis of the Action Plan for online gambling. The aim of this plan is to clarify the regulation on online gambling and enhance administrative corporation between member states.
Match-fixing
Another challenging issue on the agenda is match-fixing. Some suspicious results in the Norwegian third-tier and several similar incidents in the European Football League over the last years have resulted in a collaborated effort among several Norwegian organizations, including the Gaming Authority, to prevent corrupting sport for betting purposes. Norway is also participating in the initiative taken by the Council of Europe to draw up a binding convention against match-fixing.
Poker championship
Poker played with money has been prohibited in Norway for decades. However, in 2014, amendments to the lottery-regulation opened up for organisations, which have a socially beneficial or humanitarian purpose, to apply for a permit to organize a national championship in poker. This permit gives the right to arrange national championship in poker, for the benefit of the organisation, for a period of three years.
For the period 2015-2017, the permit to arrange the championship has been granted to The Norwegian Leukaemia association, and the first Norwegian championship in poker took place October – November 2015.
Private poker
Being effective from January 1, 2015, the Norwegian government has amended the Lottery Act as regards low stakes poker, typically played in private homes between friends and individuals with close relations. Pursuant to the amended regulation, it is legal to play poker with money in private homes with a maximum of 10 players, and if the total stake per player do not exceed 1000 NOK. Furthermore, private poker arrangements are only allowed if they do not have an organized or professional character.
Pyramid games
The Norwegian Gaming Authority also supervise illegal pyramid games in Norway.
We concluded in 2014 that WorldVentures is an illegal pyramid game. This has also been settled in one verdict from Oslo District Court in 2016. The company has stopped their business in Norway. The verdict (WorldVentures) from Oslo District Court can be read here.
The verdict was appealed to Borgarting Court of Appeal. The appeal was rejected and the state (Dept. of Culture) was acquitted in a verdict of March 5, 2018.
WorldVentures then appealed to the Supreme Court which in June 2018 concluded not to promote the case before the court. Consistent to this the verdict from Borgarting Court of Appeal is enforceable.
The verdict is the first and only about current rules for pyramid games. The regulations are from an EU-directive so the verdict is relevant to all of Europe.
Helpful links
For more information on gambling addiction and treatment pleasevisit the Norwegian helpline.
Also read regulations concerning the prohibition of the processing of payments for gambling without a Norwegian license.
Also read:
- 'How the Gaming Authorithy reacts to illegal gambling' – (feb-2013)
Relaterte lenker
Europe is one of the most prominent destinations for jaunt gambling. Along with offline casino gambling, the online casino and sports betting scene has picked up massively since the last decade.
Europe does not have one law or a single commission for all European countries, the European gambling market comprises of several nationally regulated jurisdictions.
Is Online Gambling Entirely Legal in Norway?
England, France, Switzerland, Latvia and many other countries have an easy-going attitude toward online and offline betting. Unfortunately, Norway is not one of them. Generally, online and offline gambling (including sports betting) is considered illegal in Norway.
The Norwegian government has asked credit and debit card companies to deny the transfer of funds between Norwegian citizens and online gaming operators, says a report by CardPlayer.
However, there is a silver lining for those willing to work with state-owned gambling companies. You must know the gambling laws and possible waging options in Norway if you want to sign-up with a Norwegian gambling website.
To answer this question, gambling is partially legal in Norway. Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are two companies that offer gambling services in Norway.
Both Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are state-owned companies. The Ministry of Culture and Church affairs guides and regulates the operations or Norsk Tipping.
Norway Online Casino
Also, there are several Norway casino online sites abroad. A Norwegian citizen may not own and operate an offshore gambling website, but they are designed keeping the Norwegian culture and rhetoric in mind. They provide the option to choose between Bokmal, Nynorsk, and Sami.
What Else Do I Need to Know About Gambling in Norway?
As I mentioned earlier, owning and operating a gambling website is punishable by law in Norway. A Norwegian citizen is not allowed to conduct any sort of gambling business. Although they are allowed to invite friends home if they are willing to participate in games and activities organized by the following two authorities:
We concluded in 2014 that WorldVentures is an illegal pyramid game. This has also been settled in one verdict from Oslo District Court in 2016. The company has stopped their business in Norway. The verdict (WorldVentures) from Oslo District Court can be read here.
The verdict was appealed to Borgarting Court of Appeal. The appeal was rejected and the state (Dept. of Culture) was acquitted in a verdict of March 5, 2018.
WorldVentures then appealed to the Supreme Court which in June 2018 concluded not to promote the case before the court. Consistent to this the verdict from Borgarting Court of Appeal is enforceable.
The verdict is the first and only about current rules for pyramid games. The regulations are from an EU-directive so the verdict is relevant to all of Europe.
Helpful links
For more information on gambling addiction and treatment pleasevisit the Norwegian helpline.
Also read regulations concerning the prohibition of the processing of payments for gambling without a Norwegian license.
Also read:
- 'How the Gaming Authorithy reacts to illegal gambling' – (feb-2013)
Relaterte lenker
Europe is one of the most prominent destinations for jaunt gambling. Along with offline casino gambling, the online casino and sports betting scene has picked up massively since the last decade.
Europe does not have one law or a single commission for all European countries, the European gambling market comprises of several nationally regulated jurisdictions.
Is Online Gambling Entirely Legal in Norway?
England, France, Switzerland, Latvia and many other countries have an easy-going attitude toward online and offline betting. Unfortunately, Norway is not one of them. Generally, online and offline gambling (including sports betting) is considered illegal in Norway.
The Norwegian government has asked credit and debit card companies to deny the transfer of funds between Norwegian citizens and online gaming operators, says a report by CardPlayer.
However, there is a silver lining for those willing to work with state-owned gambling companies. You must know the gambling laws and possible waging options in Norway if you want to sign-up with a Norwegian gambling website.
To answer this question, gambling is partially legal in Norway. Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are two companies that offer gambling services in Norway.
Both Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are state-owned companies. The Ministry of Culture and Church affairs guides and regulates the operations or Norsk Tipping.
Norway Online Casino
Also, there are several Norway casino online sites abroad. A Norwegian citizen may not own and operate an offshore gambling website, but they are designed keeping the Norwegian culture and rhetoric in mind. They provide the option to choose between Bokmal, Nynorsk, and Sami.
What Else Do I Need to Know About Gambling in Norway?
As I mentioned earlier, owning and operating a gambling website is punishable by law in Norway. A Norwegian citizen is not allowed to conduct any sort of gambling business. Although they are allowed to invite friends home if they are willing to participate in games and activities organized by the following two authorities:
- Norsk Tipping
- Norsk Rikstoto
Norsk Tipping offers poker, lotteries, sports betting, bingo, keno, and scratch card games. All participants have to be over 18 years of age to be able to enjoy the gambling services offered by Norsk Tipping. Norsk Rikstoto is the only company in Norway permitted to arrange horse race betting.
The good news is, you can sign-up with an offshore Norwegian gambling website. Although, you will have to find an alternative payment method to credit or debit card. I would suggest that you invest in a cryptocurrency and use it as a wager. There are several casino sites accepting cryptocurrencies for payment of the deposit.
Summary
Norway Online Gambling Companies
Indeed, online and offline gambling on any privately-owned casino or a betting website is illegal in Norway. Also, the government passed a Payment Act in 2010, so no one can use their credit or debit card to gamble on offshore sites.
Norway Online Gambling Regulation
The truth of the matter is that people still gamble online on offshore sites using payment methods other than credit or debit cards. They are willing to risk getting caught by the cybersecurity officials in Norway.
