Market liberalisation in Norway will better protect players
Tage Pettersen, a prominent figure in Norway’s Conservative Party, advocates for the termination of the current gambling monopoly as a means to enhance player protection for individuals who are currently engaging with grey market operators and Norsk Tipping.
In a recent interview with the local publication Moss Avis on March 8, Pettersen reiterated his push for market liberalisation in Norway, advocating for the inclusion of private operators in the online gambling landscape.
Pettersen’s analysis suggests that approximately 50% of Norway’s online gambling activity is driven by offshore operators, indicating a significant gap in the domestic market due to restrictive regulations.
As a key member of a group of four party officials spearheading the liberalisation campaign, Pettersen referenced the Conservative Party’s September 2024 election manifesto, which proposes to replace the existing monopoly model to “[provide] greater opportunities to assist those struggling with problem gambling.”
With a pivotal election approaching this September, several political parties are rallying for comprehensive gambling reforms. Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, the chief of Norway’s gambling trade body Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespill (NBO), expressed in September his anticipation that the market could fully liberalise by 2028.
Insights from Sweden’s Gaming Landscape
Reflecting on the market liberalisation efforts in Sweden and Denmark, Pettersen noted that neither country has expressed regret over abandoning the monopoly framework.
“In Norway, we have the opportunity to devise the most effective model by learning from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. No stakeholders in these nations are advocating for a return to a monopoly!” he stated emphatically.
In Sweden, stakeholders have increasingly voiced the need for the state to further separate itself from the monopoly operator. Gustaf Hoffstedt, general secretary for the Swedish trade body, BOS, reiterated in December his call for the government to divest its stake in the state-run monopoly, citing it as a conflict of interest.
Pettersen also emphasized the implementation of national self-exclusion registers in Sweden and Denmark, which have significantly bolstered player protection measures. “A licensed model leads to improved prevention of gambling issues. This was the primary driver for Sweden’s re-regulation. In Sweden, over 110,000 individuals have utilized ‘Spelpaus,’ a program that allows players to block themselves from all licensed gaming activities,” he noted.
He further underscored that Norway is grappling with one of the highest rates of problem gambling in Europe. However, comprehensive data on this issue remains elusive, as many players engage with unlicensed operators.
Norsk Tipping Penalised for Breach of Player Protection
The monopoly operator Norsk Tipping faced a significant setback in February, incurring a fine of NOK 36 million (£2.6 million/€3.1 million/$3.2 million) due to a technical failure that hindered players from self-excluding from their gambling accounts.
This glitch persisted from January to May of the previous year, leaving players vulnerable to extended gambling exposure.
Pettersen is set to present his strategic views on market liberalisation at the upcoming Conservative Party conference later this month, reinforcing his commitment to reshaping Norway’s gambling sector.
