EGBA Urges Norway to End State Monopoly on Gambling

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has called on Norway to abandon its state-controlled gambling monopoly. According to EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer, the country’s outdated regulatory framework poses significant risks and challenges that could impact the industry and consumers alike.

Currently, the only licensed operators in Norway are government-owned Norsk Tipping (the body oversees lotteries, sports betting, and other games) and Norsk Rikstoto (the sole provider of horse racing betting).

Private operators are barred from entering the Norwegian market due to legal restrictions. EGBA argues that this approach lags behind regulatory frameworks in the rest of Europe.

With the state monopolizing the gambling industry, nearly 50% of Norwegian bettors now place wagers on offshore platforms, according to data from H2 Gambling Capital. This puts Norway among the European countries with the highest rates of unregulated gambling activity.

The argument that maintaining a state monopoly ensures stronger regulatory control has been challenged by EGBA, citing a recent case within Norway itself. The country’s gambling authority fined Norsk Tipping €3 million for failing to meet consumer protection standards.

“A multi-licensing system is a far better alternative to the current monopoly. Many Norwegians are already turning to international platforms instead of Norsk Tipping. Creating a competitive market wouldn’t introduce new options—it would simply bring existing activity under proper oversight,” said Haijer.

If Norway refuses to modernize its market, it risks becoming one of the only European countries still clinging to an outdated gambling model.

Most countries in the region have already moved toward competitive licensing. Aside from Norway, only Iceland and Finland still operate state-controlled gambling markets — but Finland has already announced plans to phase out its monopoly.

Previously, EGBA also urged Iceland to reconsider its stance on gambling regulation.