Maarten Haijer (pictured), secretary general of the European Gambling and Betting Association (EGBA), has warned that Norway’s continuing state monopoly on gambling is pushing i-gambling players to the unlicensed market.
Haijer says that under the monopoly system, which sees all licensed gambling run by the two state-owned companies Norsk Tipping (lottery and sports betting) and Norsk Rikstoto (horseracing), players are increasingly turning to international operators in search of better choice and prices.
It is estimated that 66% of Norway’s online gambling activity now takes place on international websites, meaning the country has lost control of over half of its online gambling market, is losing out on about 2bn NOK in additional tax revenues each year and many of its gamblers are not protected by Norwegian laws.
Norway’s monopoly system did not protect gamblers any better than other European countries because of the number of players using unlicensed offerings that have no consumer protections in the country. Norway has allocated more funds to problem gambling after an increase in figures on gambling-related harm.
Norway justifies its monopoly under the premise that the state is better placed than private companies to control online gambling and protect players from problem gambling.
Norway should opt for a multi-licence system such as those in Sweden and Denmark where state-run operators exist alongside private operators. He said such a move could allow Norway to reduce the number of players turning to international I-gambling operators from 66 per cent to 5 per cent within a year, according to Haijer.
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