Interesting Facts About The Development Of Gambling in Norway

Strict legal regulations in Norway have changed over the years. But, the government still stands by banning casino games to entertain people.

You may or may not be aware that casino games to entertain people are not allowed in Norway. But, the legal regulation of this matter has not always been the same. Over the years, the government adopted new rules and legal norms. One of them is the one from 2008. According to it, gambling in offshore online casinos is prohibited in Norway.

But, Norwegians still take part in online casino services. First, they activate the best bonus casino offer. Then, use bonus funds or free spins to play slots, roulette, poker, and other games. How is this possible considering the strict laws of the Norwegian government? We have prepared an answer to this question. Also, we have covered the total development of gambling at online casinos in this country.

Development of casino gaming in Norway

Gambling in Norway is illegal. Operators cannot offer online casino games to entertain people. The Norwegian government has introduced increasingly stringent measures for national gambling. But, two companies can offer services to Norwegian citizens. These are Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto.

• Norsk Tipping is a state-owned company. The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs controls what time of day and how much money players can bet. It offers sports betting, lotteries, keno, and others.
• Norsk Rikstoto is also state-owned. It is the only company that can organize betting on horse races. In 2019, the government introduce a new rule related to age restriction. Players must be 18 years old to bet on sports, play scratch cards, and more at Norsk Tipping.

Laws that apply to all Norwegian casino players

The first criminal law in Norway that regulated gambling was the one from 1902. According to this law, only those games offered by special license holders were legal. During the 20th century, gambling was differently regulated. In the 20th century, the government passed the following laws::

• Totalizator Act of 1927
• Gaming Act 1992
• Lottery Act 1995

The Totalizator Act allowed the Norsk Riksoto Foundation to offer horse race betting. The Ministry of Agriculture monitoring these activities. 1992 Norsk Tipping AS was granted the right to manage Lotto and football betting. The Lottery Act of 1995 defined all forms of a lottery as well as other games. Also, this year, social organizations could provide these games.

Slot machines on the territory of this country

The Lottery Act of 1995 regulated the matter of slots. It had loopholes that Norwegians preyed on. Licenses for offering slots were granted by the state to charitable organizations. But, private companies were not prohibited from providing slot machines.

In 2001, gross turnover from slot machines was 9 billion NOK. Compared to 200 million NOK in 1990, this was a huge increase. Already in 2002, the government considered restricting slot casino games to entertain people. Finally, in 2007, slot machines and online casino slots were banned in Norway. But, in 2009, interactive video terminals came in optical. Players with a special card can play video terminals.

Current regulation of casino games to entertain people

In 2008, the Norwegian government banned the use of offshore online casinos. That rule applies today as well. But, Norwegians still gamble online for real money and receive rewards. How is that possible considering the many laws that regulate this matter? The main reason for non-compliance with state rules is that there are weak legal means.

Gambling control is the main task of the Norwegian Gambling Authority. The Norwegian Gambling Authority supervises casino games to entertain people as well as sports betting. They assess whether the operators follow the stipulated requirements. Their goal is also to fight against illegal online casino activities. So, they take sanctions to punish operators or individuals who break the rules.

Conclusion

Norway always had strict rules to prevent casino games to entertain people. Over the last few years, the situation has not improved. Players are still prohibited not only from real moneygambling in the country but also at offshore online casinos. There are no signs that the government will relent and introduce milder measures. Regardless of sanctions, Norwegians still take part in online casino games. They enjoy playing slots, poker, blackjack, baccarat, and more. Besides entertainment, EU online casinos offer players to make earnings.