The European Gaming & Betting Association (EGBA) has encouraged Norway to introduce a licensing model for online gambling and move away from its long-standing monopoly system.
The Norwegian gambling authority, Lotteritilsynet, also plans to launch a DNS blocking campaign in 2024 to prevent unlicensed online operators from offering their product in the country.
But Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the EGBA, is keen for Norway to switch from its monopoly system and join its European counterparts in establishing a licensing model, stating that: “The belief that a monopoly model is essential for safer gambling does not align with the current European trend.
“Nearly every other European country has implemented some form of licensing system, successfully prioritising player safety within a regulatory framework that provides clear rules for companies to follow.
“In Norway, there is a clear demand for alternatives to the current gambling monopoly, as evidenced by the determination of players to actively seek out and access international websites which offer them greater choice. It is crucial for the government to recognise and respond to this demand.”
Immediate neighbours, Sweden and Finland, have already transitioned from a monopoly system to a licensing model, leaving Norway as the only country in mainland Europe committed to an exclusive gambling monopoly.
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