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Key section parameters Jurisdiction Norway (NO) Regulator Recorded in register Favourability Unfavourable Confidence Confirmed Review status Expert approved · In expert review scope Last collected 27 Oct 2026 Summary answer In Norway, games of chance are regulated by the Gaming Act (in Norwegian: pengespilloven) and the Gaming Regulation (in Norwegian: pengespillforskriften), both of which entered into force on 1 January 2023. The Gaming Act establishes a system of exclusive licences under which the organisation or pro… ## Full section analysis In Norway, games of chance are regulated by the Gaming Act (in Norwegian: pengespilloven) and the Gaming Regulation (in Norwegian: pengespillforskriften), both of which entered into force on 1 January 2023. The Gaming Act establishes a system of exclusive licences under which the organisation or promotion of games of chance is prohibited unless a licence for that purpose has been issued, while the Gaming Regulation provides detailed rules on how the games must be set up and advertised. In section 2 of the Gaming Act, games of chance are defined as games where three conditions are met: It is possible to participate against a stake. It is possible to win something of economic value. The outcome of the game fully or partially involves an element of chance, meaning that a skill-based game is included insofar as it also includes an element of chance. Pursuant to the Gaming Act, two exclusive rights may be issued for the provision of games of chance (collectively referred to as “gaming services”), one for the provision of betting, casino, and lottery services and one for the provision of totalisator operating services in the form of horse betting services. The state-owned operator Norsk Tipping AS is granted the exclusive licence to provide betting, casino, and lottery operating services in section 11 of the Gaming Act. The Norwegian government may issue an exclusive right to one operator for the provision of totalisator operating services in the form of horse betting services pursuant to section 14 of the Gaming Act, and the exclusive licence currently in force was awarded to the non-profit-making commercial foundation Stiftelsen Norsk Rikstoto by Royal Decree on 9 December 2022. No online licences are available for private operators and, as a starting point, online licences may only be awarded to state monopolies or the equivalent. However, please note that pursuant to chapter 4 of the Gaming Act, private operators may, if certain conditions are met, be granted licences to provide certain lottery and bingo services. Please see the lottery overview and the bingo overview below for a further description. As a result of the Norwegian monopoly model where the regulated market mainly consists of two operators that are granted exclusive rights to offer gaming services, the Gaming Act imposes a general prohibition against offering and contributing to offer gaming services targeting the Norwegian market without a licence issued by the Norwegian authorities (“the offering ban”). Moreover, the Act imposes a general prohibition against marketing and contributing to market gaming services targeting the Norwegian market without a Norwegian licence (“the marketing ban”). These prohibitions are supplemented by a provision prohibiting the transfer of payments to and from gaming operators not holding a Norwegian licence (“the payment blocking-measure”). In addition, the Norwegian Gaming Authority (“the NGA”) can require internet service providers to implement DNS-blocking of websites that offers gaming services and target the Norwegian market without a licence issued by Norwegian authorities. Please see the marketing section and the enforcement section for more detailed information on the bans imposed by the Gaming Act. ## Licence Triggers The Gaming Act imposes a general prohibition against both offering and marketing gaming services directed at the Norwegian market without a licence issued by the Norwegian authorities, and a general prohibition against contributing to the offering and marketing of such services. Besides the exclusive rights operators, certain private operators may if certain requirements are fulfilled, apply for licences to provide certain gaming services, primarily offered at land-based locations. ## Type of licence needed Only the exclusive right operator Norsk Tipping may obtain a licence to provide online betting, casino, and lottery services. Only one exclusive rights operator may obtain a licence to provide horse betting services, and it has been awarded to the non-profit making commercial foundation Stiftelsen Norsk Rikstoto. As mentioned above, certain licences for land-based lottery and bingo services, and casino services on ships may be obtained by certain private operators. Period of licence & renewal process The exclusive right to provide horse betting services is provided for 10 years. Historically, the exclusive right has been directly awarded to Stiftelsen Norsk Rikstoto.