Norway debates ending gambling monopoly amid push for market liberalization

Norwegian politician, Tage Pettersen, believes that ending the country’s gambling monopoly would actually offer better protection for players. Right now, many are gambling through grey market operators and Norsk Tipping, and the Conservative Party MP thinks a more open system could be a safer approach.

At Høyre’s national conference later this month, Pettersen will make a strong case for ending the gambling monopoly. However, he acknowledges there is internal opposition within his party.

In an interview with the local publication Moss Avis on Saturday (Mar. 8), Pettersen reiterated his call for Norway to liberalize its gambling market.

He estimates that offshore operators currently power around 50% of Norway’s online gambling market.

He’s also one of four Conservative Party members leading the push for market liberalization. In the party’s September 2024 election manifesto, they called for replacing the monopoly system, arguing that it would create “greater opportunities to help those who are struggling with problem gambling.”

A report from Menon Economics estimates that such a system could increase funding for sports and voluntary organizations by 2 to 2.5 billion NOK ($234 million) per year.

If nothing changes, Norway could soon be the only country in Europe still holding onto a gambling monopoly. Meanwhile, its Nordic neighbors have already moved in a different direction. Denmark and Sweden ditched the monopoly model years ago, and Finland is set to roll out a licensing system by 2027.

Speaking to the publication (translated into English), Pettersen said: “In Finland, which is ending its monopoly system from 2027, they expect to increase gambling revenues for sports and voluntary organizations by three billion NOK ($281 million) annually by transitioning to a licensing system.

“In Norway, we now have the opportunity to create the best model based on the experiences from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. No one in these countries is calling for a return to a monopoly!”

However, critics, including the Norwegian Sports Federation (NIF) and Gambling Addiction Norway, worry that liberalization would lead to increased gambling problems and reduced funding for public initiatives.

In response, Peterson explained: “In Sweden, where a licensing system was introduced primarily to prevent gambling problems, over 110,000 players have used ‘Spelpaus’—a self-exclusion system that blocks them from all licensed gambling platforms.”

He also pointed out that Norway has the highest gambling addiction rates in the Nordic region, despite the monopoly system.

With a new government set to be elected this September, calls for gambling reform are growing. Multiple parties are pushing for changes to the current system, signaling a potential shift in Norway’s gambling policy.

Featured image: Canva

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