Licensed gambling business operators in Norway are governed by a strong regulatory framework and clear rules that protect players and promote responsible gaming. Gamblers can also use various tools to play responsibly and prevent addiction.
Due to strict gaming legislation, Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are the only companies allowed to facilitate online gambling in Norway. The Norwegian Gambling Authority regulates the industry, only allowing legal gambling activities. Restrictive laws and the Norsk Tipping monopoly have forced many players to choose offshore casinos in Norway. Read this guide to understand how international online casinos and sports betting sites cater to Norwegian players and discover the rules they must follow.
Norway’s online gambling market is gradually growing despite the country’s restrictive monopoly system. Here is an overview of the Norwegian gambling industry.
The Gambling Scheme Act (2023 Gambling Act) is the primary legislation for regulating gambling activities in Norway.
Due to limited land-based and online gaming options offered by Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, most gamblers in Norway use their smartphones to visit offshore online casino and sports betting sites.
The minimum gambling age for Norwegian citizens is 18, and gamblers need a BankID and a national ID number to gamble legally on local platforms.
Gambling operators and players must comply with KYC and AML regulations.
In addition to betting on sports, most casino players in Norway play online slot machines, poker, bingo, lotteries, and live dealer games.
Ace Alliance leverages industry experience and expert insights to choose trusted gambling sites in Norway. We consider the following features to pick the best online casinos in Norway.
We focus on operators and gambling platforms that offer services regulated by renowned gambling authorities.
We ensure that all registered Norwegian customers can benefit from welcome bonuses, free spins, and other promotions.
The chosen gambling platform must offer secure payment methods accepted in the country and facilitate fast payouts in NOK.
Norwegian citizens should be allowed to access quality customer service in the Norwegian language via live chat, email, or other channels.
Norway has maintained a monopoly on gambling for decades, with Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto as the only companies offering games and sports betting services. Today, online gaming technology has revolutionised the country’s online gambling landscape and legislation. Here are the country’s key milestones in gambling.
Norway has established a robust legal framework with strict rules enforced by Lotteritilsynet, the Norwegian Gambling Authority. The regulator is guided by the Gambling Scheme Act (2023). According to the gambling law in Norway, there are no licences for operating a commercial gambling business. Two state-owned companies are the only operators licensed to offer commercial gaming and totalisator services.
Locally known as Lotteritilsynet, the Norwegian Gambling Authority oversees Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto.
Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are the only state-owned companies allowed by the Norwegian Government to offer legal gambling services in the country.
While Norwegians can gamble on offshore websites, the country does not license offshore casinos, and foreign operators cannot advertise or use Norwegian payment options.
Ongoing debates initiated by the Høyre Party seek to end the state gambling monopoly and hopefully liberalise the market by 2028.
Norwegian citizens can choose from domestic and offshore gambling activities. Below are the most common online casino games and sports betting options.
Norsk Tipping Games
Supervised by the Norwegian Gambling Authority, Norsk Tipping offers lotteries, sports betting options, and a limited selection of casino games.
Offshore Online Casinos
Most Norwegians choose offshore casinos because such sites have many features and online casino games, including slot machines, live dealer, poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps.
Sports Betting
Sports fans can bet on their favourite sports at Norsk Tipping and foreign casinos. Top sports betting sites cover football, basketball, ice hockey, cycling, and other popular sports.
Horse Racing
Norsk Rikstoto is the only company with exclusive rights to organise horse racing sports betting in Norway.
Crypto Gambling
There are no specific regulations for crypto gambling in Norway. Many offshore operators with casino games and sports betting options accept Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
Norwegian gamblers can choose from various payment methods and use the local currency to fund their accounts and withdraw money if they win. However, gambling legislation prevents players from paying through local banks. As a result, Visa and Mastercard users find it difficult to use their credit or debit cards for gambling payments through their bank accounts. Those who choose Norsk Tipping can use debit cards, Vipps, and bank giro. We recommend the following payment options for Norwegians looking to enjoy offshore gambling activities.
Due to blocked local payment methods, many players who want to use bank accounts and cards choose Revolut and international bank transfers at offshore gambling sites.
Utorg and other intermediaries allow operators to facilitate e-wallet payments. Skrill, Neteller, and MiFinity are among the safest e-wallets for online deposits and withdrawals.
Norwegian players who want to fund their gambling accounts privately can use prepaid cards and voucher-based options, including the increasingly popular Paysafecard.
Many offshore sportsbooks and online gambling platforms in Norway accept digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, offering safe cross-border payments and fast payouts.
Strict advertising and marketing rules in Norway prohibit Norsk Tipping from offering bonuses. Fortunately, offshore casinos that accept Norwegian citizens have welcome bonuses with bonus funds, free spins, cashback deals, and other promotions. Note that these offers have different wagering requirements and other rules.
Although foreign gambling platforms are not licensed locally, they can hold licences issued by reputable gambling authorities, such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Curaçao Gaming Authority. Regulators ensure that such sites offer fair casino games and comply with strict laws. Most gaming websites with real-money games feature the following casino bonuses for Norwegians.
Licensed gambling business operators in Norway are governed by a strong regulatory framework and clear rules that protect players and promote responsible gaming. Gamblers can also use various tools to play responsibly and prevent addiction.
To play safely, Norwegian players must use online casinos and sports betting sites with valid gaming licences issued by renowned regulators.
Gamblers should also set deposit, bet, time, and loss limits to avoid losing too much money over a short duration.
Yagmur Uysal
Editor on
Another important consideration is to avoid unverified casinos and sites with a bad reputation. We recommend choosing from Ace Alliance’s list of vetted gambling platforms in Norway.
Several factors are expected to shape Norway’s regulatory reforms and the future of iGaming in the country. These include potential influence by the European Union and the call for regulatory reforms to introduce new gambling laws. Norway’s gambling monopoly remains after the 2025 elections; however, pressure for reform continues. The Progress Party and industry leaders push for a licensing model due to issues like offshore gambling and Norsk Tipping’s recent controversies. With growing support for change, experts believe Norway could transition to a more competitive iGaming market by 2028, influenced by both political pressures and European Union regulations.
Ace Alliance has successfully organised insightful events, such as Aero Prive Roma and Ace Alliance Riga. Based on our extensive knowledge of the iGaming landscape, we foresee a more dynamic Norwegian gambling market influenced by various trends. Regulations may become stricter, but we expect new reforms that establish a liberal licensing framework after long-standing debates. Many casinos and sports betting sites will also accept cryptocurrencies and allow players to use VPNs to gamble privately.
Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are the only companies allowed to offer legal gambling services in Norway. However, Norwegian citizens can gamble safely at international casinos.
Yes, most players in Norway visit offshore online casinos to play slot machines, blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, crash games, and live dealer games.
Offshore casinos are safe to use if they hold gambling licences from trustworthy regulators and comply with gaming legislation in Norway.
Winnings from gambling activities at Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are not taxable. However, players at offshore casinos pay taxes if their annual winnings exceed NOK 10,000.
Gambling laws in Norway state that players must be at least 18 years old to gamble legally in the country.