Key Moments:
- The number of moderate-risk and problem gamblers in Norway increased from 188,000 in 2021 to 269,000 in 2024.
- Nearly half of Norwegian online casino players have continued to use unregulated foreign sites, despite restrictive measures.
- Gambling Addiction Norway has reported a surge in young people seeking help, pushing its services toward capacity.
Growing Gambling Risk Despite Tighter Controls
Norway has intensified its efforts over the past three years to curb gambling, deploying advertising prohibitions, blocking certain financial transactions, restricting DNS access, and targeting foreign operators with enforcement actions. Despite these steps, the count of individuals at risk of gambling addiction has significantly grown, challenging the nation’s stated goals for consumer protection.
Escalating Numbers and Demographic Shifts
Annual surveys by Kantar, commissioned by Norsk Tipping, have uncovered that moderate-risk and problem gamblers numbered 188,000 in 2021, climbing to 269,000 by 2024. These figures draw a line between those on the pathway to addiction and those already experiencing dependency, highlighting not only growth in both categories but also an increasing prevalence among younger age groups.
| Year | Moderate-Risk & Problem Gamblers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 188,000 |
| 2024 | 269,000 |
Monopoly Model Under Scrutiny
Norway’s system, operated exclusively by state-owned Norsk Tipping, is among the most restrictive in Europe, with limitations designed to minimize harm. The aim is to control offerings and direct proceeds to social causes. Government officials have acknowledged the growing risk numbers and have proposed future preventive strategies, emphasizing continued commitment to the monopoly approach over market liberalization. According to policymakers, opening the market could escalate competition and potential harm.
Opponents, such as investor Morten Klein, argue the current framework is more effective at safeguarding state revenues than protecting vulnerable populations. Klein, whose business interests span gambling technology and a sizable stake in a major Swedish gaming firm, criticizes the model’s inability to respond to evolving gambling behaviors, particularly among youth. Yet, skepticism persists about whether his position stems from personal interests, with the broader issue of regulatory adequacy remaining unresolved.
Persistence of Offshore Play
Stringent market controls have failed to eliminate offshore gambling activity. Data from Norsk Tipping indicates that close to half of Norway’s online casino participants play with unregulated foreign operators. Supporters of a licensing system maintain that legalizing and overseeing more providers would allow for better tracking of gambling trends, in contrast to the current model where blocking individual sites and payment channels responds to breaches rather than preventing them. Norway’s inability to maintain centralized self-exclusion, as seen in other countries, further complicates oversight efforts.
Younger Gamblers and the Gaming-Gambling Crossover
A pronounced rise in risky gambling has been observed among younger men, with concerns growing over the interface between digital gaming features and gambling. Elements such as loot boxes and in-game rewards are cited as contributing to a blurring of boundaries, fostering gambling-like habits before any monetary bets are placed. Twelve organizations recently called for a ban on loot boxes on these grounds, and the Minister of Culture has announced intentions to propose legislation restricting such features by October.
Support Services Feeling the Strain
As discussions about regulatory direction move forward, the demand for gambling support services has continued to expand. Gambling Addiction Norway has noted increasing numbers of people seeking help, especially among younger age groups, placing significant pressure on available resources. Despite these strains, the group believes that a strengthened monopoly could still offer the least harmful regulatory path, provided that operators meet high standards for responsible gambling interventions. This endorsement remains conditional, emphasizing the preference for a well-supervised monopoly rather than the system in its current form.
A Regulatory Turning Point
With over 2.5 million Norwegians engaging in online or mobile gambling, the policy debate now centers on how best to control and monitor such activity rather than eliminate it. Norway stands at a crossroads: either adapt the exclusive monopoly framework to fit contemporary digital realities or reconsider whether current restrictions inadvertently push the most vulnerable further outside the reach of effective regulation. The rising risk numbers underscore that policy inertia is not a viable option, leaving open the question of whether the current system effectively safeguards those it is meant to protect.
- Author
Daniel Williams
