Norway Launches Consultation to Legalise Online Poker Under Norsk Tipping Monopoly

The Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality launched a fast-track public consultation on 29 September 2026 proposing amendments to national gambling regulations that would explicitly authorise state-owned monopoly Norsk Tipping to provide legal online poker for the first time. The policy initiative aims to channel domestic players away from unregulated offshore websites into a fully monitored domestic framework, while simultaneously introducing extensive operational reporting duties across major gaming providers in the country.

Under the proposed regulatory amendments, Norsk Tipping would be permitted to offer online poker across two regulated verticals: tournament poker and cash games. To curtail gambling-related harm, the government has set strict financial and operational boundaries. Players will face a mandatory daily loss limit of NOK5,000 (approximately $521) and an aggregate monthly loss cap of NOK10,000, reduced to NOK2,000 per month for participants under the age of 20. Tournament buy-ins are capped at NOK2,500 including operational fees, while cash games have a maximum buy-in of NOK1,000 with blinds limited to NOK5 and NOK10. Operational safeguards also include a four-table multi-tabling ceiling, mandatory five-minute cooling breaks after every continuous hour of tournament play, and an automated 15-minute pause whenever users navigate directly between poker and online casino products.

For international iGaming operators and B2B platform providers, this legislative consultation underscores Norway’s continued commitment to defending its exclusive state monopoly system, resisting the multi-license models embraced across neighboring Nordic markets. The national gambling regulator, Lotteritilsynet, will also receive enhanced oversight powers, compelling entities such as Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto to proactively report serious operational disruptions and integrity deviations. As foreign gaming platforms face ongoing payment blocking measures, the Norwegian authorities are establishing an insulated domestic alternative focused on heavy consumer safeguards rather than competitive commercial yields.

Source: iGB, Norway proposes online poker legislation to combat unregulated activity