Norway’s Conservative Party pushes to end gambling monopoly

Norway’s Conservative Party Pushes to End Gambling Monopoly, Advocates for Market Liberalization

Norway’s Conservative Party has boldly joined the call to end the nation’s longstanding gambling monopoly. This pivotal move could transform Norway’s gambling landscape, bringing the country in line with its Scandinavian neighbors. As the last Scandinavian country to maintain a gambling monopoly, Norway’s potential shift towards a regulated, licensed market could open new opportunities for players, operators, and the state alike.

Conservative Party Advocates for a Licensed Gambling Market

Norway’s Conservative Party (Høyre) has officially thrown its support behind a push to dismantle the country’s gambling monopoly, a significant policy shift embedded in the party’s latest manifesto. This move comes as political momentum builds to reform Norway’s gambling laws, particularly after Finland’s decision to liberalize its online market in July 2024. The Conservatives are now advocating for a licensed gambling model that would open the market to private operators, potentially allowing more competition and enhancing consumer protection.

Currently, gambling in Norway is exclusively managed by state monopolies Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, which control everything from physical slot machines and lotteries to online gambling, sports betting, and horseracing. However, the Conservative Party’s new stance, outlined in their manifesto ahead of the 2025 elections, challenges the status quo, calling for a shift towards a regulated, licensed market similar to those in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.

The manifesto specifically states, “Replace the current exclusive rights model with a licensed model to increase revenues for the state and provide greater opportunities to help those struggling with problem gambling.” The proposed policy marks a dramatic departure from the party’s previous stance in 2021, which aimed to preserve the monopoly system.

Political Support and Opposition

The Conservative Party, Norway’s second-largest political faction with 36 seats in the 169-member parliament, is not alone in pushing for gambling reform. The Progress Party, which holds 21 seats, has also been a vocal proponent of ending the gambling monopoly, advocating for a licensing system that aligns with neighboring countries to promote fair competition. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has expressed interest in reviewing current gambling regulations, with a focus on addressing gambling addiction and consumer protection.

However, the path to reform is not without resistance. The ruling Labour Party, currently governing in coalition with the Centre Party, remains committed to the monopoly model. With a narrow majority of 48 seats, Labour has consistently supported state control over gambling as a means to mitigate problem gambling and ensure revenues are directed towards public causes.

Optimism from Norway’s Gambling Trade Body

Norway’s gambling trade body, the Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespill (NBO), has expressed strong optimism about the potential for a liberalized market. Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, NBO’s general secretary, is hopeful that a cross-party consensus could finally lead to a regulated market. “Everyone in Norway understands it is a matter of time before the market is liberalized,” Stenstrøm noted. He emphasized that experiences from Sweden show that problem gambling rates did not increase following market regulation, alleviating a key concern among Norwegian policymakers.

Stenstrøm highlighted that Norway’s current grey market could benefit significantly from regulated competition. He expects that, with mounting support, Norway could have a fully licensed online gambling sector by 2028.

Growing Calls for Reform

The push for reform is further backed by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), which has urged Norway to move from its monopoly system to a licensing model. The EGBA argues that a regulated market would help combat unlicensed gambling, offering better protection for consumers while ensuring that operators meet stringent standards.

Norway’s potential shift from a gambling monopoly to a licensed market represents a significant step towards modernization and alignment with European regulatory trends. With growing political and industry support, the move could open new opportunities for operators and enhance protections for consumers. As the debate continues, all eyes are on Norway’s 2025 general elections, where the future of the country’s gambling industry may be decided. If successful, the move to a licensed market could usher in a new era of regulated and responsible gaming in Norway, benefiting both players and the state.