Norsk Tipping Scandals Push Debate on Norway’s Gambling Monopoly

The debate around gambling in Norway has heated up again after fresh mistakes at state-owned operator Norsk Tipping. Industry voices are calling for stronger action, arguing that repeated breaches show the monopoly model is failing to protect players.

Good to know

• Norsk Tipping has faced multiple fines in 2024 and 2025 over technical and compliance errors.
• Former CEO Tonje Sagstuen resigned following a lottery scandal earlier this summer.
• Opposition parties want the government to revisit Norway’s gambling monopoly after the September election.

Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, secretary general of the Norway Association for Online Gaming (NBO), wrote an op-ed in regional paper Østlendingen criticizing the lack of accountability at Norsk Tipping. His comments follow several high-profile cases:

• Eurojackpot error: Around 30,000 players wrongly received texts telling them they had won.
• Fine of NOK 45 million: Issued after “extra draws” gave certain groups a better chance of winning.
• Self-exclusion bug: Earlier in 2025, a NOK 36 million fine was handed out because blocked accounts remained active.
• Past cases: In 2024, the company mistakenly paid NOK 25 million to a single player.

The string of mistakes has left critics questioning why the state monopoly seems untouchable.

Stenstrøm believes someone must be held responsible—whether it’s management, the board, or the Ministry of Culture, which oversees Norsk Tipping. In his words:

“When neither the owner, the chairperson, nor the CEO takes responsibility, the Gaming Authority must step in. The Gambling Act is clear: Norsk Tipping must operate responsibly and prevent harmful consequences.”

He added that fines are not enough: “When legal breaches are repeated year after year, fines are no longer sufficient. The sanctions must be stronger.”

Monopoly Under Pressure

The NBO is not calling for a full closure of Norsk Tipping but does want a new framework. Stenstrøm argued the monopoly operator has little incentive to change because it faces no competition. He believes a licensing model—already used across much of Europe—would force higher standards and ensure meaningful consequences for failures.

“The main issue is that Norsk Tipping has little to no incentives to improve,” he explained. With more operators in the market, regulators could set clear requirements and hold all companies accountable.

Norway’s gambling monopoly has long been a political topic, but the timing is critical. The country goes to the polls on September 8, and two leading parties have expressed support for opening the online gaming market. With repeated scandals at Norsk Tipping fresh in voters’ minds, pressure for reform is growing.

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