EGBA urges Norway to rethink online gambling regulations
The association has reacted to Norway’s measure to block payments to and from six Malta gambling firms.
Norway.- The Norwegian Gaming Authority banned this week six gambling operators from Malta that were operating illegally within the territory and ordered banks to block payments involved in gambling transactions. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is now urging the government to come up with better online gambling regulations.
According to the regulator, the companies were marketing themselves in Norway and offering their online casino and betting services to local players without the watchdog’s permission, therefore they ordered banks to block payments to and from accounts that are used for processing gambling transactions.
EGBA urged the Norwegian government to rethink how the country regulates online gambling, as it believes that the current regime is not sustainable and “the latest attempt to block off a Norwegian corner on the internet is evidence of it.”
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, said that instead of using payment blockings to try to prevent adult citizens from making informed and free choices, the association urges he Norwegian authorities to develop an online gambling regulation which is fit for the realities of the borderless, digital age.
“There are currently only two gambling providers authorised in Norway – both state-owned – and this is not sustainable in an age when consumers expect variety and can easily search around the internet to find this variety. With Norway’s restrictive rules, these players are currently playing with websites that are not regulated by Norway – which depletes Norwegian state tax revenues and jeopardises the task of keeping control of the market.
“EGBA supports a well-regulated and controlled environment for online gambling which keeps players safe – and the best way to do this is by developing a regulated market, based on multi-licensing, which applies a high level of consumer protection set by the Norwegian authorities.”
“We have seen this happen recently in Sweden, where the country is now moving towards a licensing system for online gambling. It is what the overwhelming majority of European countries have been doing in the face of economic and social reality – and it is inevitable that Norway will have to confront the same choice,” added Haijer.
