Norway has been urged by Europe’s largest gaming trade association to abandon its monopoly model for online gaming and embrace an open market.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) made the plea, Live Casino Direct reported September 18.
Norway is one of the last holdouts with a state-owned gambling monopoly. It has two: Lottery Norsk Tipping, which oversees online casino gaming and sports betting and Norsk Rikstoto, which operates horse racing.
In urging Norway to adopt an open market like Sweden and Finland are moving towards, EGBA Secretary-General Maarten Haijer said this would make Norwegians more law-abiding and less likely to seek out illegal gaming sites.
He said in a statement: “The belief that a monopoly model is essential for safer gambling does not align with the current European trend.” He added, “Nearly every other European country has implemented some form of licensing system, successfully prioritizing player safety within a regulatory framework that provides clear rules for companies to follow.”
He continued, “Neighboring countries like Sweden and Finland have already recognized the benefits of transitioning from a monopoly system to a licensing model, leaving Norway as the only country in mainland Europe committed to an exclusive gambling monopoly.
A market system would also increase tax revenue and improve consumer protections, he said.
Haijer added, “It is essential for the authorities to evaluate whether this approach remains relevant in the modern digital age and in comparison to the practices adopted by other European countries.”
He noted that players appear to be determined to seek out international websites that offer a wider choice of products.
He concluded, “We strongly urge the Norwegian authorities to consider the advantages of a licensing model.”
However for the moment Norway seems determined to maintain its monopoly.
One illegal site that has been operating in Norway for years is Kindred. Last week the regulator Lotteritilsynet announced that the company is withdrawing from the market, along with three other “prominent” gaming groups.
