Legislation

Norway – Norway toughens punishments on illegal online operators and affiliates

Norway is looking to crack down on illegal online gaming operators with new legislation uniting the Lottery Act, Gambling Act and Totalisator Act ‘strengthening the exclusive rights model’ enjoyed by Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto.

The new laws have made it clear that marketing of gambling services is not allowed by anyone who doesn’t hold a Norwegian licence including affiliates with the warning that ‘violation of the ban can result in punishment.’

Minister of Culture Abid 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.”

Marketing gambling or betting to children is now a criminal offence as is marketing to self-excluded gamblers whilst gambling with credit cards sis banned.

Mr. Raja added: “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.”