The Norwegian regulator, Lotteritilsynet, has reported strong and improved rates of channelisation. In 2025, 2.6% of players used foreign gambling companies, down from 3.8% in 2024.
At the same time, estimates show that Norwegian players lost NOK 1.9bn to illegal operators in 2025. This is NOK 500m more than the average of Lotteritilsynet’s estimates for 2024, but regulator notes that the figures are difficult to compare due to changes in how they are calculated.
Over the past five years, the number of online casino players at Norsk Tipping has doubled, rising from 200,000 in 2020, when players used the KongKasino game, to 400,000 by 2025. Norsk Tipping’s games are strictly regulated, but Lotteritilsynet is still concerned about the increase in casino gambling.
Norsk Tipping is also seeing an increase in casino gaming among young people, especially among 18-year-olds opening player accounts for the first time.
Lotteritilsynet proposed several measures to prevent the growth in KongKasino from leading to more gambling problems in Norway.
One proposal is to introduce a series of questions that must be completed before playing. This would provide information to help players make informed decisions about high-risk games, such as casino games.
However, the regulator notes mainly foreign online casinos cause gambling problems in Norway, according to both population surveys and data from the Gambling Helpline.
Lotteritilsynet Director Atle Hamar stated: “Many young people are introduced to gambling through gaming, and foreign companies market via influencers who reach young audiences.”
In March, the Norwegian Government introduced an action plan to tackle gambling problems. The plan will run until 2029 and will be implemented by Lotteritilsynet, the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Media Authority, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute.
This month, Trond Bentestuen officially took over as CEO of Norsk Tipping. The appointment follows several months of operational and reputational pressure on the operator.
The Norwegian Government is working on intensifying cooperation with financial institutions and banks to curb transactions to illegal operators
