Saying Norway needs more “holistic regulation” of its gambling industry, Lotteritilsynet, Norway’s gambling regulator has called for a new gambling law in the country with greater player protections.
The agency was responding to a consultation on regulatory reform being conducted by Norway’s Ministry of Culture. The review was launched earlier this year to consider consolidating the country’s Lottery Act, Gambling Act and Totalisator Act into a single regulatory framework. Proposed changes were submitted to the European Commission last month.
Lotteritilsynet said the bill clarifies that the main purpose of the law is to prevent gambling problems and other negative consequences of gambling.
The regulator further said that in order for player standards to be raised, new provisions are needed which will ensure that all forms of gambling are only open to players that have an account with a legal operator.
“Norwegian regulation will be strengthened through new instruments that will provide better control of the gambling market and ensure a more responsible gambling offer in Norway,” thee regulator said in a press statement.
The regulator also said that state-owned operators such as Norsk Rikstoto and Norsk Tipping would be able to better uphold standards of player protection if complete views of each user’s gambling activity were available.
The regulator also wants a provision in the law which would prohibit direct competition to the state-owned operators in the legislation. The regulator said such a move is necessary since Norsk Tipping in particular offered a range of online casino games that were associated with “problematic gambling behavior’.
“These games were only considered safe to offer to players because of the strict player protection controls offered by Norsk Tipping, and direct competition could put players at risk,” the statement said. As a result, it suggested that the new act explicitly stated that Norsk Tipping was the sole operator permitted to offer these games, which ‘require special public controls.’
The proposed changes are under a standstill period through November 12 mandated by the EC.
