Norway submits new Gambling legislation to EC
The European Commission will scrutinise Norway’s streamlined Gambling Act.
Norway.- The country has submitted its proposed new unified gambling legislation to the European Commission.
The streamlined Gambling Act combines the existing Lottery Act, Gambling Act and Totalisator Act in a single piece of legislation while maintaining state-controlled operators Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto’s monopolies.
The Norwegian Ministry of Culture is still consulting on the proposed legislation, but following submission to the EC it will now be subject to a standstill period until November 13.
Norway’s legislature said: “The proposed Act aims to prevent gambling problems and other negative consequences of gambling and to ensure such games take place in a responsible manner.
“This corresponds to the main objectives of the Norwegian gambling policy, which are to prevent problem gambling activity, protect vulnerable players, prevent crime and prevent private profits from gambling.
“The act will harmonise the legislation applicable to the gambling sector in Norway and provide a more coherent and systematic approach to risk assessment, enforcement and sanctions applicable to the sector.”
Norway is one of the few European countries to maintain state-controlled monopolies over most gambling.
Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are the sole operators permitted to offer games with high turnover and prizes.
The proposed new Act tightens state control over the two operators further in a bid to ensure they follow responsible gambling measures.
The regulator Lotteri-og Stiftelsestilsynet (Lotteritilsynet) would receive more power to enforce fines or suspensions in the event that licence conditions are breached.
The Act allows non-profit organisations to offer low-turnover and low-prize gaming, but still prevents any sort of private profit from gaming operations.
Games may be given limited promotion, but advertising must not target vulnerable groups including minors or those who opt out of receiving gambling marketing.
The Act maintains the current ban on payment processing for unregulated offshore operators and gives Lotteritilsynet power to ask internet service providers to place warning messages on offshore websites that target Norwegian players to inform users that the companies are operating without a licence.
See Focus Gaming News’ interview with Atle Hamar, the General Director of The Norwegian Gaming Authority
