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Betting Operators Take on Norway

Norway has announced that it plans to pass a ban on remote online casinos and betting sites. And though the Norwegian government is claiming that the ban will be put in place to protect Norwegian gamblers, the internet betting sites that will be affected by the ban assert that Norway is simply protecting government run monopolies. The Norwegian ban would make it illegal for Norwegians to place bets through, and transfer funds to, foreign online casinos and betting sites. And though many predict that the ban is imminent, the foreign betting sites have set up their own initiative in the form of a Responsible Gambling Code.

The Responsible Gambling Code is a specific Norwegian code of practice that the online betting sites will follow when operating in relation to Norway. This code was put in place by the foreign online casinos and betting companies to directly counter the government’s argument that the foreign gambling ban better protects Norwegian bettors. A central part to the government’s argument is the fact that the state run monopoly can better control problem gambling. The remote operators though claim this is folly, and use the Responsible Gambling Code as a way to demonstrate that remote online betting companies can just as effectively protect Norwegian bettors.

There are several prominent online casinos and betting sites involved in the dispute with the Norwegian government, a few include Betsson, Ladbrokes, Unibet, and Expekt. These companies are working together to counter the impending Norway ban. Spokespersons for several of the sites even went so far as to allege that the proposed Norway ban would actually encourage criminal activity within the online betting industry rather than protect players as it is intended. The sites involved vehemently argue that the ban only serves to protect the Norwegian state monopoly and actually infringes on Norwegian players’ rights to choose where and how to spend their monies.

The Responsible Gambling Code is a first and hopefully effective step toward countering the proposed ban on remote online casinos and betting operators. If this is not effective though, Norway can bet that the betting sites will continue to look for a way into the Norwegian betting market.