Online gambling in Norway

Two national exclusive-right operators, not every permission holder

Norsk Tipping has the exclusive right to offer online casino games, sports betting, number games, bingo and entertainment games; Norsk Rikstoto has the exclusive right for horse betting. The two Atlas operator records cover those national exclusive-right providers. They are not a count of every organisation allowed to run bingo, lotteries, the national poker championship or other limited gambling activities.

The player rule and the provider rule are different

The Gambling Act does not prohibit the player from participating in a game that lacks Norwegian permission. The prohibition instead targets the professional provider offering gambling into Norway. This distinction does not make the site authorised or guarantee payment, complaints handling or Norwegian player protections.

Verify the official mark, permission and exact product

Key date: 4 Mar 2026

Since March 2026, every operator permitted to offer gambling online in Norway should display Spillmerket on its website or app. Use the mark as a starting point, then confirm the organisation and permission in Pengespillregisteret. A permission for bingo, a lottery or a poker tournament does not prove authority for online casino or sports betting.

A foreign licence is not Norwegian permission

A licence from Malta or another EEA jurisdiction does not create an automatic right to target players in Norway. Norwegian authorities assess whether an offer is directed at the local market through signals such as Norwegian language, NOK, +47 registration, local support, Norwegian marketing and attempts to bypass payment controls.

The blocklist is negative evidence, not a licence register

DNS blocking has applied since 1 January 2025. The authority reports 238 blocked websites linked to 72 companies, while another 71 sites changed before blocking so they no longer targeted Norway. New and replacement domains may not yet be blocked, so an unblocked site is not proof of legality.

Banks must stop known unauthorised gambling payments

Norwegian banks and payment institutions must stop deposits and payouts they know are connected to gambling without Norwegian permission. The duty covers foreign card transactions coded MCC 7995 and concealed routes through third-party processors; it applies even when the regulator has not issued a named account order.

Links and affiliate deals can be prohibited marketing

Norway prohibits marketing and assisting the marketing of gambling without Norwegian permission. The regulator expressly includes links that encourage visits to foreign operators or casino portals, influencer promotion and affiliate, agent or intermediary arrangements. Neutral editorial mention is not automatically the same as promotional assistance; context and targeting matter.

Online poker remains outside the permitted online offer

Norway does not currently have a legal regulated online-poker offer. The annual national poker championship and qualifying low-stakes private games are separate exceptions. On 19 August 2026 the Government said a possible Norsk Tipping proposal was still being prepared for consultation; it was not an approval, licence or launch date.

Licensed status does not remove compliance supervision

Key date: 15 Nov 2026

In June 2026 the authority ordered Norsk Tipping to correct the mandatory one-hour break in KongKasino by 15 November 2026, backed by a conditional NOK 15,000 daily coercive fine from 16 November. The fine has not started. The case shows why operator authorisation and ongoing product compliance must be checked separately.