Online gambling advertising faces opposition on social media platforms within Norway
Norway has strict regulations in place to prevent foreign gambling operators from advertising or targeting Norwegian players, including on social media platforms and live streams. The gambling market is a state monopoly, with only two state-controlled companies, Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, legally allowed to offer gambling services.
Under the revised Money Gambling Act, Lottstift, the Gambling Authority of Norway, is empowered to take regulatory action against non-compliant operators. Recently, Lottstift instructed Tiergarten Marketing Ltd, the operator of Schpell.com, to halt all marketing activities within Norway due to non-compliance with gambling advertising regulations.
Schpell.com, a popular content platform, was found to have violated Norwegian legislation by showcasing influencers promoting online casino games. Lottstift has also directed social media platforms to exercise caution with Norwegian influencer content to ensure compliance with current advertising regulations.
The Gambling Authority of Norway has taken a zero-tolerance stance towards social media platforms promoting online gambling content and live streams. This regulatory framework aims to protect consumers and maintain control over gambling activities. Enforcement measures include blocking payments to offshore sites and filtering internet domain names to prevent access to unlicensed operators.
Despite these efforts, many Norwegians access international gambling sites through proxy or cryptocurrency payments, which are not fully controllable by Norwegian regulators. Some influencers still skirt the law, prompting continued monitoring and inspections.
The broadcasting platforms were reminded of Norway's Broadcasting Act, prohibiting gambling promotion unless by one of the two available monopolies, Rikstoto or Norsk Tipping. The caution from the Gambling Authority of Norway comes after Lottstift took "serious action" against Schpell.com and issued cease-and-desist warnings to Baris Entertainment AS and Viken Underholdning AS, allegedly linked to influencers promoting illegal gambling.
This crackdown on foreign gambling advertisements and promotions on social media and live streams is not a new development. Brazil took a similar measure against social media influencers advertising unregulated gambling last December. The businesses must fully comply with these regulations by February 20 or risk potential fines and non-compliance violation fees.
The Gambling Authority of Norway was established in 2001 and is responsible for overseeing both state-controlled and private gaming in Norway. The authority's director, Monica Alisøy Kjelsnes, emphasized the targeting of a young audience in live streams promoting unlicensed casinos, and the use of Norwegian influencers by these operators to appeal to Norwegian consumers.
In summary, Norway’s laws prohibit any social media promotion or live streaming of online gambling content by foreign operators to Norwegian users, enforced through payment blocks, DNS filtering, and advertising bans, all to protect the state monopoly on gambling.
1) In light of the recent directive from Lottstift, the Gambling Authority of Norway, Tiergarten Marketing Ltd, the operator of Schpell.com, has been advised to halt its gambling-related marketing trends within Norway due to violations of gambling advertising regulations.
2) The Gambling Authority of Norway, through its zero-tolerance stance, is actively monitoring and enforcing casino-and-gambling regulations on streaming platforms and social media, which aim to prevent the promotion of unlicensed gambling and protect consumers.
