Betting Sites in Norway

Population: 5.300.000
Active players: 1.636.000
Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, online casino games, lotteries, horse racing, bingo, poker.
Operator types: State-run monopoly in betting & online casinos (Norsk Tipping) and horse races (Norsk Rikstoto). Foreign betting sites operate without legal permit.
Designated authority: Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteri og Stiftelsestilsynet).
Status: Grey market. Foreign bookmakers are not legally prosecuted.

Norway is considered as one the best countries to live in, as it ranks in first place in terms of living standards, life expectancy and education according to the UN. High wages and robust social benefits mean that Norwegians have a lot of cash to spend, with an approximate 30% of them choosing sports betting & other gambling activities to entertain themselves on a weekly basis. As a result of this impressive player value, a plethora of foreign betting sites are offering their services to local punters, amid a loose Norway gambling law that is trying but failing to protect the state-run gambling monopoly of Norsk Tipping.

Things to know before you bet

• Apart from Norsk Tipping, no bookmaker has been awarded a Norwegian Gaming Authority license.
• Access is not limited to NorskTipping, as you can bet on any foreign betting website in Norway.
• Local citizens are technically required to declare tax winnings made in another country.
• Norske Kroner are accepted on most bookies, with many of them offering their services in Norwegian.
• No brick and mortar casinos operate in Norge, with Norsk Tipping holding exclusive rights to offer legal online casino gaming.

Top 3 Betting Sites in Norway

How online betting sites in Norway operate

Similar to most Nordic betting countries, the sports betting landscape is split between a loosely state enforced Norway gambling monopoly and foreign-based operators that offer their services without any legal or financial obligations towards the government. In 2010, the Norwegian Gaming Authority tried to deter access to these unlicensed sites by implementing certain payment blocking measures, similar to the UIGEA in the United States. However, payment institutions and government officials were not pressured to follow through on these measures and as a result Norske betting players have freely continued placing their wagers on their favorite bookmakers. In terms of brands, the local market is heavily influenced by UK & Malta based bookies, with Bet365, Interwetten and 10bet claiming the lion's share.

Betting on the best Norsk bookmakers

The complete absence of any taxes or compliance requirements means that Norwegians regularly enjoy high odds and promotional offers from foreign betting sites. Unfortunately, there is a significant drawback to this free-for-all regulatory nature given that Norway is not a member of the European Union. This means that players are not protected by EU consumer protection laws while they can also not appeal to the European Court of Justice in case of bookmaker fraud. Thankfully, most Norwegians are aware of these hazards and tend to choose trusted betting sites mainly based in European countries.

Competition among bookmakers

The combination of high player value and the absence of government control have naturally made Norway one of the best targets for well known and emerging bookmakers. Fierce competition among these betting sider Norge has allowed some regional powerhouses, like Unibet, Nordicbet No and Betsson Norge, to overshadow their British counterparts who have lately fallen out among millennial bettors. An interesting stat is the resurgence of slot machines in the average gambler's preference that has practically doubled in revenues since 2012. The Lotteri og Stiftelsestilsynet had tried to tackle this trend in the past when they attempted to ban foreign operators from advertising and accepting payments regarding casino products. However, the lax government controls coupled with the fact that Norsk Tipping No operates its own casino platform (KongKasino), meant that no real pressure was put on limiting the effect of slot machines.

Gambling payment methods in Norway

Following the block by the Regulatory Authority (27/04/2017) regarding payments from Norwegian banks (overføring bank), the local market responded with a complete transition to online payment services and e-wallets. This means that paysafecards, virtual cards, Skrill & Neteller, Boku are frequently used, while local Avtalegiro and BankAxept are steadily increasing in popularity among players.

Betting sites in Norway that accept NOK

As the only licensed Norway bet site remains Norsk Tipping, you might be wondering if any foreign bookies accept Norsk Kroner as a currency. The truth is that some of them do, although it’s usually Nordic betting sites that are already well established. The beste Norske bookmaker that takes NOK remains Unibet NO who offer many perks to new bettors like live streaming, cash out and a hefty joining bonus. Other premium sportsbetting Norge operators who allow depositing and withdrawing with NOK include Betsson and Nordicbet. 1xbet is one of the few online gambling sites that does not hail from Scandinavia and allows you to bet with Norge Kroner.

New betting sites in Norway

As we mentioned above, gambling in Norway is pretty much a free for all and it’s only natural that any sports betting operator worth his salt is looking to enter the local market. Due to the fierce competition, these nye Norske bookmakere will usually offer a significant betting bonus Norge to attract players, often surpassing NOK 1000. New or established bookies though, we always suggest being careful when betting in Norway as some operators that are licensed in lesser-known regulatory authorities might require a bit of personal research before you sign up on them.

Bookspy's comment

Pretty much like the other Nordic countries, Norge has tried to balance its social heritage with a liberal approach in terms of its gambling sites Norway regulation. This means that while they have openly condemned foreign operators from approaching local players and are promoting Norsk Bet Tipping services, they have not taken active steps to ban accessing these sites. Although Norwegian punters might think that a coherent regulatory status would have little effect, they have to remember that betting on unlicensed bookmakers means that they lack a safety net against scam bookmakers. My belief is that Norway should look across the Skagerrak and imitate Denmark's approach to iGaming, by implementing a strict but fair licensing system.

Best betting sites for Norway