Maarten Haijer, Secretary Basic of the European Gaming and Betting Affiliation (EGBA), has not too long ago prompted Norway to relinquish the state monopoly mannequin on playing. The Brussels-based commerce affiliation represents the main playing operators providing licensed and controlled providers throughout EU international locations.
Norway is among the many few European international locations that also preserve a agency stance on state-controlled playing. The abandoning of government-led monopolies in favor of the introduction of licensing programs in different EU international locations is already a truth. Finland is anticipated to lastly transition from a playing monopoly to a licensing system. Though the method is in its early phases, it is going to be applied by the start of 2025. This leaves Norway as the only EU nation that insists on preserving the monopoly mannequin.
EGBA’s chief officer additional accentuated the misperception that state-run monopoly fashions guarantee a safer playing surroundings for gamers. That is the precise reverse of what international locations with an open licensing system have already demonstrated.
Haijer additionally commented that Norway’s authorities wanted to deal with the nation’s rising demand for an open and correctly regulated playing sector and act appropriately to implement it.
The Setbacks of a State-run Playing Sector
Beneath the present circumstances, gamers primarily based in Norway are urged to hunt aggressive playing providers from unlicensed offshore operators. They’re able to provide them a higher variety of gaming merchandise and betting markets which might be at present not legally accessible. This primarily robs the state finances of playing income taxes that will in any other case be utilized for different sectors.
Regardless of the final development throughout EU international locations towards an open licensing mannequin, Norway appears reluctant to let go of the monopoly. In an announcement launched by the Lottstift – Norway’s Playing Regulatory Physique, 4 main betting teams have discontinued their operations throughout the nation.
In the end, the liberalization of the playing business in Norway would result in not solely a rise in tax income however it could additionally enhance protected playing practices that every one operators can be obliged to abide by.
As Maarten Haijer additional commented, the Norwegian authorities ought to rethink its method to the mannequin in view of the up to date digital age and prioritize participant security and higher variety of the playing merchandise on provide.
That stated, within the 12 months to observe, the Norwegian Playing Authority could also be empowered to dam unlicensed offshore operators, additional selling the retention of a state-controlled playing sector within the nation.
As per the monopoly system at present established throughout the nation, there are solely two government-owned operators which might be allowed to supply playing providers in Norway.
The primary one is Norsk Tipping, which gives a variety of immediate video games, sports activities betting, and lottery merchandise. The second is Norsk Rikstoto, which holds the monopoly over parimutuel betting on animal racing.
