Norway's dominance in gambling: Right Party advocates for a licensing system in their Manifesto, covering casinos and sports wagering.
Pressure to Dismantle Norway's Gambling Monopoly Grows Stronger
Høyre, Norway's conservative political party, is pushing for the dismantling of the country's gambling monopoly, as demonstrated in their latest party platform. The Norwegian Gaming Industry Association, also known as Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespill (NBO), agrees that market liberalization might be feasible as early as 2028.
Shift in Høyre's Perspective
Following Finland's liberalization of its gambling market in July, Norway remains the only Scandinavian country to uphold a gambling monopoly. However, advocacy for change has persisted for some time.
A piece published in iGaming Business reveals potential developments in the Norwegian gambling market [English article]. The conservative party Høyre, currently second strongest in parliament, supports the liberalization.
In the revised version of Høyre's party platform, the gambling monopoly's abolition is now suggested:
The present setup of exclusive rights ought to be replaced with a licensing system to boost state revenues and [provide more platforms] to support individuals grappling with problematic gambling. [...] Existing agreements and conditions could be reviewed based on the experiences of Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. – Excerpt from Høyre's party platform, source: iGaming Business**
In the 2021 version of Høyre's platform, prior to the last election, they advocated for maintaining the monopoly and emphasized its significance for responsible gambling.
The Existing Condition in Norway
Legal gambling in Norway is currently limited to providers Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, who share the market for slot machines, lottery games, online gambling, sports betting, and horse racing.
By September 2023, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) had already advised Norway to transition from its current monopoly framework to a licensing system for online gambling to address issues such as gambling on unregulated websites.
Experts also argue for market liberalization due to increased state revenues, which could potentially be utilized for social initiatives.
Incumbent Party's Opposition to Monopoly End
The current ruling Arbeiderpartiet, with a majority in the Norwegian parliament, appears to be in favor of maintaining the status quo. Their coalition partner, the Senterpartiet, shares this perspective, although the coalition's longevity remains uncertain.
Besides Høyre, the Framstegspartiet also backs market liberalization. While they may not yet have sufficient votes to dismantle the monopoly, after the next election (8 September 2025), the situation might be close.
However, the NBO predicts that even if a majority is formed, liberalization may not occur immediately. A transition period until 2028 is considered feasible.
The piece in iGaming Business indicates that Høyre, Norway's conservative party and the second strongest in parliament, now advocates for dismantling the gambling monopoly, suggesting a replacement with a licensing system to boost revenues and support individuals with gambling issues.
With Høyre's shifted stance, the News about potential market liberalization in Norway, similar to Finland's approach, continues to gain traction.
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