Norway Moves Closer to Legal Online Poker

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Bjorn Lindberg 1 hour ago

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Norway proposes regulated online poker via Norsk Tipping, abandoning new poker licensing.
Strict loss, buy-in, and play limits will help protect players and curb overspending.
Final choice of poker network could impact access for those playing on international sites.

Norway could soon have its first regulated online poker room, with the government proposing to allow Norsk Tipping to offer both tournaments and cash games.

The move is designed to bring some of the estimated 100,000 to 150,000 Norwegians already playing online poker into the regulated market.
But it also raises a major question: which poker network will Norsk Tipping use?

The Ministry of Culture and Equality launched a public consultation on September 29, proposing an amendment to Norway’s gambling regulations. If approved, Norsk Tipping would be permitted to add online poker to its existing gambling offering.

The Distinction

It is an important distinction that this would not represent the introduction of a new poker licensing system in Norway.
Instead, the government wants to expand what Norsk Tipping is permitted to offer within the country’s existing monopoly model.

The consultation closes on November 29, with the government shortening the normal consultation period because it wants the regulatory changes to be capable of entering into force quickly.

The Proposal

The proposal is largely an acknowledgement of something that has been happening for years: Norwegians already play online poker.

A University of Bergen study from 2022 estimated that almost 90,000 Norwegians played online poker annually with overseas operators.

Norsk Tipping believes the current number could be significantly higher, estimating between 100,000 and 150,000 players annually.

The Norwegian government believes offering poker through Norsk Tipping could move some of that activity into the domestic regulated system.

Many Norwegians play online poker. It is better that we get a responsible and safer offer here in Norway, rather than unregulated games at foreign, commercial gaming companies,

Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery.

Strict Limits Proposed for Online Poker

This would not be unrestricted online poker.

Under the proposal, players would have accept strict limits:

a daily loss limit of NOK 5,000
a monthly limit of NOK 10,000.
Players under 20 would have a much lower monthly loss limit of NOK 2,000.
Tournament buy ins would be capped at NOK 2,500 including fees,
while cash game buy ins could not exceed NOK 1,000.
Cash games would have maximum blinds of 5/10NOK (approx €$0,50/1)
Players could play a maximum of four tables simultaneously.
Tournament players would also be required to take a five minute break after every hour of play.

The consultation additionally raises the possibility of banning or heavily restricting the marketing of online poker.

Norwegian Poker Federation Welcomes the Move

The proposal has received a positive response from the Norwegian Poker Federation.

Tobias Jelsa Leknes, president of Norsk Pokerforbund, described the announcement as “a joyous day”, saying many Norwegian players want access to a legal online poker site.

However, speaking directly to PokerWired, Leknes stressed that the proposal should not be confused with Norway introducing a new licensing regime.

This is simply an extension of what the regulations allow Norsk Tipping to offer, which is currently under consideration. There is no separate licence involved,

Leknes told PokerWired.

That means Norway is not currently proposing a system under which PokerStars, GGPoker or other international operators could apply for Norwegian poker licences.

Norsk Pokerforbund has separately stated that its longer term position is in favour of a licensing model under which established international poker companies could apply to operate legally in Norway under Norwegian requirements.

Tobias Leknes, president of the Norwegian Poker Federation.

What Happens to International Poker Sites?

One of the obvious questions is whether giving Norsk Tipping the exclusive regulated poker offering would mean Norwegian players losing access to international poker rooms.

Leknes does not expect the regulatory change itself to have that effect.

He told PokerWired that Norwegians currently play elsewhere and that the federation does not expect the proposed amendment alone to result in wider consequences for those players.

There could, however, be an important complication depending on which poker platform Norsk Tipping eventually chooses.

The site that Norsk Tipping will operate on will become unavailable to Norwegians through other means,

Leknes explained.

In practical terms, if Norsk Tipping were to partner with an existing international poker network, Norwegian players might no longer be able to access that same network independently.

“I think some people will find it disappointing if Norsk Tipping chooses GG and thereby removes the opportunity to play on GG outside Norsk Tipping,” Leknes told PokerWired.

“Other than that, no consequences are expected.”

No technology provider or poker network has been confirmed as part of the current government proposal.

Could Norsk Tipping Join an Existing Poker Network?

That could ultimately become one of the most interesting questions surrounding the launch.

Poker depends heavily on liquidity.
A standalone Norwegian player pool would have to generate enough traffic to support regular cash games and an attractive tournament schedule, while simultaneously operating under relatively restrictive loss and buy in limits.

An alternative would be for Norsk Tipping to use technology and potentially liquidity supplied by an established poker network.

Which company, if any, eventually provides that infrastructure has not yet been announced.

The Norwegian Poker Federation has already been working with Norsk Tipping on the development of its proposed poker product.

Norsk Tipping has publicly described an ongoing dialogue with Leknes and the federation dating back to 2023.

For Norway’s poker community, the government proposal therefore represents an important change, but not necessarily the final destination.

Norsk Pokerforbund has made clear that it ultimately wants a broader regulated market where serious international poker operators can participate under a Norwegian licensing system.

For now, however, the immediate question is simpler: whether the government approves online poker for Norsk Tipping, and what the resulting poker room will actually look like.

What Networks Are There?

The options are limited to a few but nevertheless with their own pros and cons. Depending on what Norsk Tipping would go for it would either affect the existing online poker players or the site itself.

Remember that, which ever site/network Norsk Tipping decides to go with would exclude that specific site/network for the Norwegians playing online today.

Let's break it down.

GGPoker Network

Option one would obviously be GGPoker, world's biggest poker site but also a network who already is the home to Danske Spel, the Danish government owned gambling operator.
The network also hosts Olybet, a dominant Baltic online operator, and Natural 8 being the biggest operator targeting Asian Markets.

Pros:

biggest global player pool
currently offers the best online promotions and campaigns
state of the art software

Cons:

would affect Norwegians already playing on GG who'd have to terminate their existing accounts
Ocean Rewards, the cashback system might have to be adapted for the NO market, for the worse - considering the high rake on GGPoker, removal of or changes to the loyalty program would decrease the incentive to play there
the brand would have to seriously redo their client to fit the proposed strict regulations for Norway

Some of the pros and cons might be good for Norsk Tipping, by joining the GGPoker network they could block GGPoker from the market. All Norwegians would have to register new NO accounts which would benefit the channelisation and generate more tax revenue for Norway.

PokerStars Network

The other one could be the new player on block: PokerStars Network.

As the site has evolved, or had to in order to survive, to offer B2B services, and left the Norwegian market some years ago - this window could be the time for a return.

Pros:

trustworthy site and, let's assume, network
still fairly good global liquidity
offers more game types and variety then GGPoker
experienced with the NO market

Cons:

can't think of any single one currently

Going with PokerStars would be a great fit for Norsk Tipping and most likely for the players since PokerStars doesn't accept any NO traffic at all (no agents). This would mean that Norwegian players could qualify to EPTs and other Pokerstars related live events around the globe.

But joining this network wouldn't block any existing operator from the NO market which might be one of the points for Norsk Tipping to not go with PokerStars.

iPoker

Lastly, we have iPoker. Home of somewhat 20+ brands (ex bet365, ChampionPoker) where some are micro sites just accepting national traffic and some bigger brands accepting traffic from several GEOs.
This network will likely face some challenges the coming years with PokerStars Network targeting iPoker skins. At least two are jumping ship shortly. More will follow.

Pros:

access to a global liquidity pool
good software with mixed & special games

Cons:

would affect a lot of Norwegian players, one can't play on two iPoker skins at the same time. This would obviously affect Norsk Tipping as well since the strict regulations, would only be applied to Norsk Tipping, are just reasons not to play at the site.