Norway Moves to Give State Monopoly Exclusive Online Poker Rights, Targeting 150,000 Unregulated Players

The Norwegian government has formally proposed granting its state gambling monopoly, Norsk Tipping, the exclusive right to offer online poker to domestic players. The move is designed to pull an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 Norwegians away from unregulated foreign operators that currently dominate the country’s online poker market.

The Ministry of Culture and Equality opened the consultation on October 1, 2026, and will accept public comments until November 29, 2026. If adopted, the proposal would close a long-standing gap in Norway’s monopoly model: no state-licensed operator currently offers online poker, even though a 2022 University of Bergen study found nearly 90,000 Norwegians already playing on offshore sites.

Key facts

What the proposal includes

Under the draft rules, Norsk Tipping would be required to impose strict loss limits on poker players. No player may lose more than NOK5,000 per day or NOK10,000 per month from poker activity. Players under 20 face a tighter monthly cap of NOK2,000. Tournament buy-ins are capped at NOK2,500, €250 or $250 including fees, while cash game buy-ins are limited to NOK1,000, €100 or $100.

The proposal also restricts multi-tabling to four tables at once. Tournament players must take a mandatory five-minute break every hour. For cash games, players will be able to set personal daily time limits. The government expects Norsk Tipping to integrate poker with its Spillepuls responsible gambling system, which already tracks player behavior across other products.

A separate barrier between poker and online casino games is under consideration. The ministry has proposed a mandatory 15-minute waiting period before a player who reaches their poker loss limit can continue gambling on other Norsk Tipping products. Norway already caps total monthly losses through the monopoly at NOK20,000 across all game types.

Why Norway is acting now

Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery stated that the current situation leaves too many Norwegians playing on unregulated foreign sites. “We know that many Norwegians play online poker. Therefore, it is better that we get a responsible and safer offer here in Norway, rather than unregulated games at foreign, commercial gambling companies that are driven by profit,” she said.

An earlier policy document from the ministry noted that the absence of a legal domestic poker product could weaken Norsk Tipping’s ability to steer players away from foreign gambling companies. The new proposal directly addresses that concern by creating a state-backed alternative.

Marketing and oversight rules remain open

The consultation document also leaves marketing rules undecided. The ministry is asking stakeholders whether online poker advertising should face a complete ban or only very limited promotion. Norway already restricts gambling advertising for other monopoly products, and poker could follow the same strict pattern.

The gambling regulator Lotteritilsynet would be required to review the online poker product within one year after launch. The same regulatory package introduces mandatory reporting of serious incidents for Norsk Tipping, Norsk Rikstoto and several major lottery and bingo operators. Smaller amendments cover how Belago bingo funds can be distributed.

What this means for players and the market

For Norwegian poker players, the proposal represents a significant shift. If implemented, they would no longer need to rely on foreign-facing sites such as those licensed in Malta, Gibraltar or the UK. Instead, they would play on a domestic platform with strict loss limits, mandatory breaks and full integration with the national responsible gambling system.

Foreign operators currently serving Norwegian players would face a direct challenge. Norway’s monopoly model already blocks unlicensed operators from marketing or accepting Norwegian players, though enforcement has been uneven for poker. The new product would give Norsk Tipping a tool to compete directly for the estimated 100,000 to 150,000 players who currently play offshore.

The consultation period runs until November 29, 2026. After that, the ministry will review responses and decide whether to proceed with legislation. If approved, Norsk Tipping would need to build and launch the poker platform, with Lotteritilsynet conducting a review within the first year of operation.

Source: iGaming.org Casino News – Norsk Tipping Could Get Exclusive Norway Online Poker Rights