SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Norway’s Ministry of Culture has confirmed its support for a consultation to consolidate the nation’s gambling laws into a single legislative framework.
Endorsed by Culture Minister Abid Raja, the consultation will form the basis for a new bill to merge Norway’s three existing gambling mandates – ‘1992 Gambling Act’, ‘1995 Lottery Act’ and ‘1927 Totalisator Act’.
Forwarding the proposal to Norway’s Stortinget (legislative assembly), Raja underlined that the consultation will not review Norsk Tipping (lottery and gambling) and Rikstoto (racing) positions as national gambling monopolies.
Instead, Raja will seek to remove the inefficiencies in governing Norway’s gambling monopolies, which to date have been supervised by three separate government entities – The Lottery Committee, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Under a new legislative framework overseen by the Ministry of Culture, Norsk Tipping and Riskstoto will be subject to stricter state controls, with the government directly appointing the monopolies’ executive and board nominees.
Further objectives will see the Ministry of Culture undertake all responsibilities with regards to reviewing Norsk Tipping and Risktoto’s social responsibility and customer care duties.
Reducing the number of government agencies overseeing Norwegian gambling legislation, Raja underscored that national regulator Lotteritilsynet will be strengthened in protecting the market against unlicensed operators.
The consultation will also enforce new advertising laws, denying remote operators’ access to marketing verticals, which they have been able to circumvented under existing laws.
Developing a consolidated framework, the Ministry of Culture stated that it will work with all relevant stakeholders, in designing effective legislation addressing all of gambling’s technicalities in relation to consumer protections, technology advancements and further marketplace dynamics.
