Tage Pettersen of the conservative Høyre party has reiterated his call for an end to Norway’s state monopoly on gambling. He says that opening the gambling market to competition would provide better player protection because many players were currently using unlicensed operators that offered no safeguards.

The gambling industry in Norway is entirely state-controlled, with Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto being the only licensed operators. This makes Norway one of the few European countries still maintaining a monopoly-based model. Meanwhile, Finland has already announced plans to introduce a licensing system for private operators starting in 2026.

In an interview with Moss Avis, Pettersen pointed out that nearly 50% of online betting in Norway takes place through unregulated operators. He emphasized that the country could benefit from the experiences of Denmark and Sweden, which have already transitioned to a licensing regime. “In Norway, we can create the best model by learning from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. In none of these countries is there any discussion of returning to a monopoly,” Pettersen stated.

The conservative Høyre party included gambling market reform in its election manifesto presented in September 2024. This issue is expected to be a key topic in the debates leading up to Norway’s elections in September 2025, with multiple political parties pushing for regulatory changes. The Norwegian Online Gaming Industry Association (Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespill, NBO) has also predicted that the country will transition to a fully regulated licensing model by 2028.

Sweden is currently considering a partial privatization of its former state gambling monopoly, Svenska Spel, reflecting a growing trend toward establishing a regulated competitive market. Meanwhile, Finland is in the process of developing a licensing system for online gambling. The state-owned operator Veikkaus will be split into two entities—one retaining the monopoly over lotteries and land-based slot machines, while the other competes in the regulated online gambling market.

In February 2025, Norsk Tipping was fined NOK 36 million (€3.1 million) due to a technical failure that prevented players from self-excluding via its mobile app. The fine, imposed by the national gambling regulator Lotteritilsynet, underscores the importance of effective consumer protection measures—a key argument in the ongoing debate over market reform. Given these developments, Norway could be the next Scandinavian country to reassess its regulatory framework to create a more transparent, competitive, and consumer-friendly gambling market.