Is Online Gambling in Norway Legal?
In recent years, the Norwegian government has made gambling in the country stricter for even online casinos. They blocked all online transactions using the local banks. However, Norwegian players are still safe to play at international online casinos accepting players from Norway and using friendly-user e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller.
Some players even hope for outside help. However, it does not sound possible as Norway is not a part of the European Union. European Commission does anything to change the law.
All players and operators are looking forward to the lawmakers to change their stringent gambling laws.
Government monopoly over the gambling industry
If you search for the term of gambling law in Norway, you will be worried as it is stated that gambling in Norway is illegal. However, Do not be over-reacted. There are many loopholes and exceptions to these laws when it comes to online gambling.
It is necessary to understand the reasons behind the ban on gambling from the government of Norway. The first one is the effort to prevent all problematic gaming behavior. Number second is the prevention of financial irregularities, and the last one is a limitation of private profit.
The only two legal betting sites you can find in Norway today are:
- Norsk Riskoto for horse racing.
- Norsk Tipping for lotteries, sports betting, poker, keno, and scratch card games
Before 1902, gambling was not regulated. After the year, the Penal Code was applied to enforce all gambling operators with a state-issued license. Therefore, you can only find 2 legal forms of gambling in the country, which led to the government monopoly over the gambling industry.
Norsk Rikstoto was first established as the first and only operator to legally conduct gambling activities related to horse racing in 1927 after passing The Totalizator Act.
Followed Norsk Rikstoto, Norsk Tipping was founded as the first operator focusing on sports betting activities after the state monopoly is made when the Gaming Act was approved.
2007 was marked by the event in which the government started banning all land-based slot machines. Until now, lawmakers also decided to ban all international gambling sites by blocking online transactions with the hope of making local players bet at state gambling operators.
This article will still give some small hopes for those who want to play at top online casinos accepting Norway from outside. Please follow our care guide to bet.