Norwegian Gambling Authority voices support for new gambling curbs
Regulator backs tighter restrictions on high-risk verticals and credit card gambling
The Norwegian Gambling Authority (NGA) has voiced its support for Norway’s proposed new unified gambling act but has called for increased controls on credit cards and high-risk gambling verticals.
The NGA was responding to the Norwegian government’s public consultation on merging the Lottery Act, the Gambling Act and the Totalizator Act into one new act, as first revealed in August.
“The NGA believes that the proposal for a new joint gambling law will facilitate a more holistic regulation of the Norwegian gambling market, and that this will ensure responsible gambling,” the NGA said.
The NGA has called on the Norwegian finance ministry to assess the validity of further regulations limiting “direct competition” with state monopoly holders Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto.
As part of this, the regulator has backed measures limiting so-called high-risk games to the exclusive rights holders (Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto) only.
The NGA has also called for the introduction of a ban on credit card-based gambling, similar to the one in force in the UK.
In addition, the regulator offered support to the introduction of do not serve (DNS) messaging across illegal gambling sites operating in Norway as proposed by the Norwegian government.
The NGA has called on the government to continue the current penalty system for infringements of Norwegian gambling laws as its removal would “weaken” its ability to prosecute operators.
In a departure from other European regulators, the NGA has said the regulation of video game loot boxes should not come under gambling law, but should instead be addressed by Norway’s consumer and media authorities.
“The NGA sees that more games in the grey zone between computer games and gambling can create problems related to spending money.
“The NGA believes that it is important that problems related to computer games and lottery boxes are addressed, but then through another set of rules that is better adapted to this area than the Gambling Act,” the NGA concluded.