The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has called on Norwegian authorities “to turn away from difficult-to-enforce and counterproductive payment blocking measures”.
Following the closure of the Norwegian government’s consultation on its proposal to block payment transactions to and from foreign gaming websites, the EGBA is urging the introduction of online gambling regulation, as opposed to the proposed blackout.
The EGBA also states that it has significant concerns regarding the legality of proposals under Norwegian and EU law, with court proceedings initiated challenging similar blocking initiatives.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General at the EGBA, commented: “From a consumer perspective, there are only two licensed gambling providers in Norway – both state-owned – and this is just not sustainable in an age when consumers can easily search around the internet for their preferred choice of gaming product.
“A fundamental rethink and reworking of the Norwegian online gaming regime is therefore necessary to ensure that local and foreign operators can co-exist and have equal access to a well-regulated market which meets the realities of consumer demand for different gaming products.
“This can be easily achieved through a national licencing regime, such has been recently introduced in Sweden, which would enable the Norwegian gambling authority to bring the activity of foreign websites under its control, alongside existing state-owned operators.
“That’s exactly what the overwhelming majority of European countries have been doing, and that’s exactly what we are urging Norway to do.”
Urging a rethink, the EGBA has announced its support of a goal which would “create a well-regulated and controlled environment for online gambling in order to fully protect consumers”.
Believing payment blocking of foreign sites is neither realistic nor an effective means on controlling internet activity, it is urging online regulation “which is modern, open to competition, protects consumers, and reflects consumer choice and the reality of the digital age of borderless internet”.