The Norwegian  government is proposing a legislative amendment that would allow Norsk Tipping to fulfill its wish to offer online poker.

“We know that many Norwegians play online poker. Therefore, it is better to have a responsible and safer offering here in Norway, rather than unregulated games provided by foreign, profit-driven commercial gambling companies,” says Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery (Labour Party) in a press release.

A population survey conducted by the University of Bergen in 2022 showed that nearly 90,000 Norwegians played online poker annually with foreign operators. Norsk Tipping estimates that there may now be between 100,000 and 150,000 people playing online poker each year.

In June 2024, Norsk Tipping requested an amendment to the Gambling Act that would legalize online poker. The proposed legislative change is now being put out for public consultation, and Jaffery considers Norsk Tipping the natural choice of provider.

“Our most important tool is the exclusive rights model—which guarantees that gambling in Norway is governed by responsibility and operates within a safe framework, rather than being driven by foreign gambling companies’ desire for profit,” she says.
The proposed legislative change includes specific rules regarding loss limits, maximum stakes, and mandatory breaks from play.
The deadline for consultation responses is November 29.