Norway’s monopoly operators – Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto – have both cut back on their marketing activity per an order from the Norwegian gambling authority, Lotteritilsynet.
Reducing their marketing costs by June 30, 2024, Lotteritilsynet has stated that Norsk Tipping must cut back by at least NOK 45m (20 per cent), while Norsk Rikstoto will cut back close to NOK 3.4m (5.2 per cent).
Norsk Tipping has to cut back on marketing more than Norsk Rikstoto because the competition for the companies’ games faces different competition from the illegal players.
The gambling authority noted that it is ‘satisfied’ that both operators have completed the process of reducing marketing pressure.
Atle Hamar, General Director of Lotteritilsynet, said: “Advertising and marketing for gambling is harmful for those who have problems with gambling.
“According to Norwegian law, gambling can only be marketed as far as is necessary to inform about the gambling offer and lead the desire to gamble in society to responsible and safe gambling.”
The decision to reduce marketing comes as illegal gambling advertisements are removed from Norwegian TV.
In turn, Lotteritilsynet notified Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto in August 2022 that they must take measures to reduce advertising, which they have adopted.
Hamar stated: “The illegal providers’ bets on horses with fixed odds are not in direct competition with the bets of the Norwegian National Sports Confederation.
“Nevertheless, we have seen that such games have been marketed by the illegal players in order to lure Norwegians to an illegal casino offer.”
Earlier this month, Norway’s government amended its gambling act to allow Lotteritilsynet to block illegal websites starting next year.
