Online poker could be allowed in Norway under proposed changes to gambling regulations
The Ministry of Culture and Equality suggests allowing regulated online poker in Norway with tight limits and controls.
Key takeaways:
- Norway has launched a consultation on plans to allow state-owned gambling operator Norsk Tipping to offer online poker for the first time. The aim is to channel players away from unregulated overseas websites and into a regulated environment.
- The proposal includes a range of player protection measures, including daily and monthly loss limits, mandatory breaks for tournament players, a maximum of four simultaneous tables, and a 15-minute cooling-off period before moving from poker to online casino games.
- The consultation also proposes new incident-reporting requirements for major gambling operators.
Norway.- A measure has been proposed to allow online poker in Norway for the first time. The Ministry of Culture and Equality has fast-tracked a public consultation on proposed changes to gambling regulations that would allow the state-owned monopoly gambling operator Norsk Tipping to offer the vertical alongside its existing offerings.
The aim is to divert players away from unregulated overseas online poker offerings as Norway continues to mount walls around its state monopoly gambling regime. Proposed reforms would explicitly allow Norsk Tipping to offer online poker through two formats: tournament poker and cash games.
The government’s view is that poker’s blend of skill and chance, combined with its widespread availability on unregulated platforms, makes it a logical addition to the operator’s existing online portfolio. Current legislation requires Norsk Tipping to manage gambling products that require “special public control” because of their potential risks or high stakes.
Limits and controls for online poker in Norway
The ministry has outlined a series of responsible gambling measures designed to minimise harm while ensuring the regulated product remains attractive enough to compete with offshore operators. Under the proposals, players would be subject to a daily loss limit of NOK5,000 (€460) and a monthly cap of NOK10,000. Players under 20 years of age would have a lower monthly limit of NOK2,000.
Tournament buy-ins would be restricted to NOK2,500, including fees, while cash-game buy-ins would be limited to NOK1,000. For cash games, the maximum blinds would be set at NOK10 for the big blind and NOK5 for the small blind.
Tournament participants would have to take a compulsory five-minute break after every hour of play. Cash-game players would be able to set their own time limits, supported by monitoring tools implemented by Norsk Tipping.
In a further effort to reduce the risk of players losing control, there would be a restriction limiting them to playing a maximum of four tables at the same time. Meanwhile, anyone moving directly from poker to online casino products would be required to observe a 15-minute cooling-off period before continuing play.
The consultation seeks feedback on whether advertising for online poker should be prohibited or significantly restricted. The ministry cited concerns about younger and more vulnerable consumers possibly being attracted by poker’s cultural appeal.
Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery said the proposal is intended to reduce gambling-related harm by bringing players into a regulated environment. “Many Norwegians play online poker. It would be better that we have a responsible and safer offer here in Norway, rather than unregulated gaming at foreign, commercial gaming companies,” she stated.
The Norwegian Poker Federation has previously argued just that case, saying that the creation of a regulated domestic online poker offering would provide a safer alternative to unregulated sites. Several grey-market poker operators have withdrawn from Norway in recent years. PokerStars left the market in 2023, while Unibet and 888 also ended their poker offerings amid pressure from the country’s authorities.
Research cited by the ministry from a 2022 University of Bergen survey found that almost 90,000 Norwegians play online poker annually through overseas operators, while research commissioned by Norsk Tipping suggested the number could be between 100,000 and 150,000, with as many as 130,000 players active during any quarter.
New incident-reporting obligations for gambling operators in Norway
Alongside the online poker proposal, the ministry intends to introduce mandatory incident-reporting obligations for large gambling operators, which in Norway means Norsk Tipping, the horseracing betting operator Norsk Rikstoto plus charitable bingo and lottery providers. The rules would require operators to notify the regulator Lotteritilsynet of serious incidents and operational issues in a bid to help authorities intervene more quickly and improve market transparency.
The move follows a number of controversies involving Norsk Tipping. Last year, Lottstift issued a €3.9m fine against Norsk Tipping for a major technical error affecting Eurojackpot and Lotto draws dating back to 2015. It also issued a €2.1m fine over an error in the Superdraw that resulted in 52 incorrect winners of high prizes being drawn.
The consultation also includes proposals for administrative changes affecting the distribution of bingo revenue. Organisations receiving funds would need verified bank accounts connected to the national Voluntary Organisations Register and must remain actively registered when payments are made. Any unclaimed funds would be returned to Norsk Tipping and redistributed under existing arrangements.
FAQs
Does Norway have regulated online poker?
No, currently online poker is not currently regulated in Norway and is considered illegal by the state authorities. However, some players access online poker via unlicensed offshore offerings.
Why is Norway considering the regulation of online poker?
The government believes many Norwegians are already playing online poker through unregulated overseas operators. It says allowing Norsk Tipping to offer a regulated online poker product would provide a safer and more responsible alternative while helping reduce gambling-related harm.
What restrictions would apply to online poker players?
Players would face a daily loss limit of NOK5,000 and a monthly limit of NOK10,000, with a lower NOK2,000 monthly cap for those under 20. Tournament buy-ins would be limited to NOK2,500, cash-game buy-ins to NOK1,000, players could only play up to four tables at once, and tournament players would have to take a five-minute break every hour.
