Norway launches four-year national strategy on gambling harms
Norway’s gambling regulator will play a role in a new plan to reduce gambling harms as the country maintains its state monopoly on gambling.
Norway.- The Norwegian government has announced a four‑year national strategy intended to address gambling harms in the country. Running from 2026 to 2029, the plan focuses on prevention, treatment, and research but will see no regulatory changes.
Authorities said the aim is to reduce the number of people developing gambling problems, stressing that safeguarding vulnerable groups must outweigh commercial interests. Norway retains a state monopoly over gambling, with regulated offerings only available via Norsk Tipping and the horseracing betting operator Norsk Rikstoto.
The new strategy will focus primarily on young people aged 9 to 25, with particular concern for those aged 12 to 17 who engage with gambling‑like features in video games, such as loot boxes and skins. Other groups highlighted include athletes, prisoners, individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, those outside education or employment, and people with prior gambling issues.
Prevention efforts will involve outreach in schools and sports clubs, digital campaigns, and guidance for adults. Agencies including the gambling and media regulators Lotteritilsynet and Medietilsynet, along with the Directorate of Health, Helsedirektoratet, will share responsibilities, supported by the Norwegian Film Institute and voluntary organisations. Educational programmes will aim to help young people recognise gambling elements in games, while prevention materials will be distributed through youth‑oriented portals like ung.no and snakkomspill.no, as well as social media.
Training and tools will be provided to parents, teachers, coaches, healthcare staff, prison officers, employers, and bank employees to spot early warning signs. Meanwhile, Norway’s gambling helpline, Hjelpelinjen, will add chat functions, and free remote treatment programmes will continue to be offered without GP referrals.
Within the prison system, staff will receive training to identify and manage gambling problems among inmates, who often accumulate debts while incarcerated. Coordination between the Directorate of Health and regional competence centres (KORUS) will be strengthened to extend services locally.
Data collection will also be stepped up, with regular surveys on gambling and gaming participation and a new nationwide study focused specifically on gambling harms. The government also plans annual forums with operators to reinforce responsible gaming obligations. Cooperation with banks and financial institutions will be intensified in a bid to block payments to unlicensed gambling providers.
