Norway proposes exclusive online poker rights for Norsk Tipping

The Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality has submitted a proposal to grant the state-owned company Norsk Tipping exclusive rights to offer online poker. The plan aims to transition players from unregulated offshore platforms to a controlled, legal environment within Norway.

If approved, Norsk Tipping would be permitted to provide both poker tournaments and cash games. The regulation would include strict player protections, such as limits on losses, buy-ins, and the number of tables, alongside enhanced incident reporting requirements. Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery stated that Norsk Tipping is a natural choice due to its existing requirements for responsibility.

Currently, no operator is licensed to offer online poker for money in Norway, though individuals can play on foreign sites. The government has previously taken steps to curb offshore gambling by blocking foreign sites and restricting Norwegian banks from facilitating payments to international gaming companies. Estimates of the number of Norwegians playing online poker vary, with University of Bergen research suggesting 90,000 annual players, while Norsk Tipping estimates the figure could be as high as 130,000 to 150,000.