Best Betting Sites in Norway

Norway is one the best countries to live in, as it ranks first place in terms of living standards, life expectancy and education according to the UN. Boosted by an oil and natural gas-based economy, the state has kept ownership in the most significant financial sectors, allowing Norwegian to enjoy extensive welfare benefits.

As a result, locals have the financial freedom to choose sports betting and other gambling activities to entertain themselves weekly. The government has a tight grip on betting sites in Norway, operating two state-owned bookmakers, Norsk Rikstoto & Norsk Tipping, and banning all others. International sportsbooks are typically prohibited, but Norwegians can join them and play without facing the consequences. Several well-established Nordic bookies also bypass the law and offer betting services despite the harsh regulations.

Best Norway Betting Sites

While the country has some of the strictest gambling laws globally, things can be different in action. International bookmakers accept Norwegians, and some of them even have the local currency and language available. We have hand-picked top Norway betting sites with the highest odds, most diverse markets and regular bonuses.

Gambling in Norway - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  Apart from Norsk Tipping & Norsk Rikstoto, no bookmaker has been awarded a Norwegian Gambling Authority license
• 2
  Access is not limited to Norsk Tipping & Norsk Rikstoto, as you can bet on any foreign betting website in Norway
• 3
  Local citizens are technically required to declare tax winnings made in another country
• 4
  Norwegian Krone is accepted by most bookies, with many of them offering services in Norwegian
• 5
  No land-based casinos operate in Norway, with Norsk Tipping & Norsk Rikstoto also not allowed to offer online casino games

General info

⏩Population: 5.300.000

⏩Active players: 1.636.000

⏩Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK)

⏩Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, online casino games, lotteries, horse racing, bingo, poker

⏩Operator types: State-run monopoly in betting & online casinos (Norsk Tipping) and horse races (Norsk Rikstoto). Foreign betting sites operate without a legal permit

⏩Designated authority: Norwegian Gambling Authority (Lotteri og Stiftelsestilsynet)

⏩Status: Regulated

Sports Betting in Norway: The Law Framework

In 1995, with the passing of the Lottery Act, the last major change in gambling took place when online Norway bookmakers were not even a thing for most people. Since then, the government, via the Norwegian Gambling Authority (or Lotteri og Stiftelsestilsynet), has tried to clamp down on illegal gambling activity.

In 2010, it attempted to deter access to unlicensed sites by implementing specific payment-blocking measures, with not much success. Later in June 2021, officials aimed to unify all gaming acts (Lottery Act, Totalisator Act & Gambling Act) and strengthen the online betting monopoly of the two state-owned firms.

Moreover, it includes a provision to hand out fines to online betting Norway sites operating with no license. Another article has the ISPs popping up a warning message to bettors visiting an international bookie while prohibiting the marketing and advertising of illegal sportsbooks.

What You Should Know About Norwegian Bookies

It is an understatement to say that unregulated betting in Norway is illegal. The government has been trying to close any loopholes with amendments in the Gaming Acts and deems any activity outside the two state-owned bookies illegal. However, many Norwegians opt to play on non-regulated bookmakers because strict laws are never enforced. 

Do You Have to Pay Tax on Norway Betting Sites? 

A caveat is whether you play abroad or not, you have to pay a winning tax. If you win more than 10.000 NOK, you will be liable to a tax of 28%. However, you might get a tax exemption if you play on government-run betting sites in Norway.

The latter is meant to entice players, especially high-rollers, to bet on domestic sites. Regardless of where you choose to place your bets, you have to declare any winnings above 100.000 NOK.

Betting in Norway: How to Deposit 

Following the trend of neighbouring countries, Norway has been a leader in digital and cashless payments. Visiting international Nordic bookmakers will give you the opportunity for more diverse transactions, but how do they stack up, and which method should you choose? Firstly, since 2017, all credit and debit cards have been banned for gambling purposes.

Still, some brands offer it, but the transactions are not displayed as gambling-related. Likewise, bank transfers and any other option have a bank acting as the main party. Bettors had to look elsewhere to fuel accounts, so some of the most popular methods nowadays include wallets like Skrill, Neteller & Paysafecard.

Furthermore, local options like Avtalegiro & BankAxept are widely used. Norwegians can also choose to register with one of the many offshore Boku bookmakers. The same applies to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Dogecoin & Tether, which are also increasingly accepted in sportsbooks.

Should You Wager on Betting Sites in Norway

After the latest enactment of the Gaming Act in June 2021, things have cleared up for Norwegian players. The gambling monopoly is unlikely to break, and the government will try to tighten its grip on international Norway betting sites even more.

The tax separation based on where you play is a good example. But will this be good enough to convince Norwegians to bet exclusively on the state-owned sportsbooks? That seems unlikely as International Norway bookmakers have a better product with higher odds and bonuses.

The tax might hurt high-rollers, but they will probably win back more if they opt for an unregulated bookie in the long run. But even recreational bettors will appreciate the superior and more diverse services of international sites for betting in Norway. That being said, as long as you can play abroad, you have no reason to go for a change.

Gambling Regulations in Nearby Countries

⏩ Norway: has legalised and regulated all forms of gambling on its territory, and currently, the state has a monopoly over the market.  This didn't stop international brands from competing over being the best betting sites in Norway, as neither they nor the players who opt for them are penalised.

⏩ Denmark: has a regulated market where operators are theoretically legally obliged to obtain a license and a local domain to offer their services. However, the Denmark betting sites comprise a long list of licensed and unlicensed international brands. 

⏩ Finland: also has a state monopoly on sports betting and other forms of gambling. This doesn't stop the betting sites in Finland that are gaining popularity since the offshore companies offer higher odds, more sports, and better promotions.