Norway’s Conservative party (Høyre) has called for the end of the country’s state-run gambling monopoly. The party’s latest manifesto, published ahead of the September 2025 election, proposes a transition to a licensed gambling market, potentially opening the doors to market liberalization by 2028. Norway remains the last Scandinavian country to maintain a gambling monopoly, while its neighbors, including Finland and Sweden, have moved toward more liberalized models.

Currently, the state-owned operators Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto hold exclusive rights to provide legal gambling services in the country. These monopolies cover a broad spectrum of activities, including physical slot machines, lottery games, online gambling, sports betting, and horse racing. However, Norwegian players have long been able to access international gambling operators licensed outside the country, such as those regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

The Conservative Party’s Push for Change

The Conservative Party’s new manifesto marks a significant shift from its 2021 stance, which supported the continuation of the monopoly system. The updated policy, championed by party members such as Magnus Mæland, Ola Svenneby, Tage Pettersen, and Anita Oterhals Eide, calls for replacing the exclusive rights model with a licensed system. By doing so, the Conservatives aim to increase state revenues while also providing more robust tools to address problem gambling.

“Replace the current exclusive rights model with a licensed model to increase revenues for the state and [provide]

greater opportunities to help those who are struggling with problem gambling,” the manifesto states.

The Conservative Party is the second-largest in Norway’s parliament, holding 36 of the 169 seats and having secured 20.6% of the vote in the 2021 general election. The next general election, scheduled for September 2025, is set to be a pivotal moment in determining whether the monopoly model will be replaced with a licensed framework.

Growing Political Support and Incoming Regulations

The Conservative Party is not alone in advocating for change. The Progress Party, which holds 21 seats, also called for a licensing model in its 2021 manifesto. Additionally, the Liberal Party has expressed intentions to review gambling regulations, particularly to tackle gambling addiction. Meanwhile, the Labour Party, which governs in coalition with the Centre Party, has historically supported the monopoly system and shows no signs of shifting its stance.

Norway’s gambling trade association, Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespill (NBO), has responded positively to the Conservative Party’s proposal. NBO’s general secretary Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, expressed optimism, stating, “I am extremely optimistic this could be our time for a licensed gambling market. Everyone [in Norway]

understands it is a matter of time before the market is liberalized.”

This movement follows similar trends in other Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden and Finland. Finland recently announced plans to adopt a licensed model by 2026, and Norway’s neighbors are often cited as examples in the debate.

DNS Blocking and Operator Withdrawals

In addition to political discussions, Norway is preparing to implement new regulations to tighten control over the gambling market. Starting in January 2024, Norway intends to introduce DNS website blocking for international gambling operators that do not hold a local license. This move has long been in the pipeline, with several proposals previously submitted to the Norwegian legislature but failing to gain approval. Now, political sentiment has shifted, and the upcoming regulations aim to curb access to unlicensed platforms.

International operators such as Unibet, Betsson, ComeOn, and bet365 have long served Norwegian customers by operating under licenses from other jurisdictions, particularly Malta. However, Norwegian regulator Lottstift recently announced that many of these major operators are preparing to withdraw from the market due to increased regulatory pressure.

“Companies that do not withdraw from the Norwegian market risk having their websites blocked next year, when we get new regulations in place,” Lottstift said in a statement.

Despite this, some operators, including Kindred Group (the parent company of Unibet), argue that their services remain legal under international law. A Kindred spokesperson stated, “Norwegian residents have legally and at their own free will chosen to participate in our offers. It is totally legal for Norwegian residents to play with overseas gambling companies, and they are not breaking any Norwegian laws.”

While international operators are facing increasing pressure, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has also called for Norway to introduce a licensing system, arguing that it would help tackle the demand for international services more effectively. The EGBA’s secretary general, Maarten Haijer, emphasized that Norway’s current monopoly system is out of step with regulatory regimes across Europe.

Outlook: A Liberalized Market by 2028?

As Norway inches closer to the 2025 election, the debate around the country’s gambling monopoly is expected to intensify. With major political parties divided over the issue and international operators facing new restrictions, the coming years will be crucial in determining the future of Norway’s gambling sector.

Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm of NBO is confident that Norway could see a fully liberalized online gambling market by 2028, following in the footsteps of Sweden and Finland. Public consultations and political negotiations are set to continue, with the Conservative Party leading the charge for change.

Source Attribution:

“Norway’s Conservative party joins calls for end to gambling monopoly”, igamingbusiness.com, September 11, 2023.

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