At the Conservative Party's national convention at the end of March, Storting politician and former mayor of Moss, Tage Pettersen, will speak enthusiastically about following in the footsteps of countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Finland and ending the gambling monopoly.

“We have a dissent within the Conservative Party, and I hope to capitalize on it,” says MP Tage Pettersen.

Brief summary
-Tage Pettersen of the Conservative Party wants to end Norway's gambling monopoly and introduce a licensing system, using Denmark, Sweden, and Finland as models. Pettersen argues that a licensing system will provide better control and prevention of problem gambling, as well as increase funding for sports and volunteering.

- A report by Menon Economics shows that a licensing scheme could increase funding for sports clubs and volunteering by between NOK 2 and 2.5 billion per year.

- Opponents, including the Norwegian Sports Federation and Gambling Addiction Norway, argue that a licensing system will lead to more problematic gambling behavior and less funding for socially beneficial purposes.

- The Norwegian Online Gaming Industry Association supports Pettersen's proposal and believes that a licensing model will provide better control over the gaming market and increase state revenue.

– Why are you and your colleagues so convinced that the most sensible thing to do is to move away from a monopoly and establish a licensing system?

– Approximately half of those who play online games in Norway play with players who are not from Norsk Tipping. It's completely legal, unregulated, and we can't impose any demands on gaming companies. In a licensing system, all gaming companies would be equally responsible for responding and initiating measures when signs of problem gambling arise. Furthermore, a licensing system would generate more money for sports, Pettersen responds.

A study by Menon Economics shows that Norway could increase the funds going directly to sports clubs and volunteering by between 2 and 2.5 billion kroner annually. They have conducted three socioeconomic analyses of a licensing system in Norway (2016, 2018, and 2022), all of which conclude that reregulating a licensing model would be profitable in Norway.

– In Finland, which is phasing out the monopoly system starting in 2027, it is expected to increase funding for gambling in sports and volunteering by three billion annually by re-regulating gambling policy through a licensing system. In Norway, we can now create the best model based on the experiences of Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. In these countries, no one advocates a return to monopoly!, comments Tage Pettersen.

"Gambling Pause"
– You argue that a licensing model will capture and treat gambling addiction in a completely different way than today. How?

– With a licensing model, we achieve better prevention of gambling problems. This was the main reason for the new regulation in Sweden. In Sweden, more than 110,000 people have already used "Spelpaus," which blocks gamblers who choose this option from all licensed games, responds Mossingen.

– Norway ranks first in the Nordic countries when it comes to problem gambling, despite a slight decline in recent years. This means that the current model is not sufficiently capable of caring for problem gamblers, he adds.

Naturally, Pettersen & Co. supports the Norwegian Online Gambling Industry Association (NBO).

– What we see is that the vast majority turn to the regulated market when a licensing model is introduced. "We're talking about 90 percent of turnover, which allows authorities better control over people's gambling habits and makes it easier to implement targeted measures where necessary," says Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, Secretary General of the NBO.

– And then it increases state revenue, which in turn means there's money to distribute to sports and volunteering, which are in dire need of more funding today, he adds.

Systems and Routines
– How much tax revenue do you think Norway could raise by introducing a licensing model?

– According to a 2022 Menon report, the numbers are clear. In 2024, for example, a model like Denmark's would have generated around 2.5 billion kroner more by introducing a licensing system. This is a considerable amount that would lead to significantly better conditions for sport and volunteering in Norway.

– How are gamblers who gamble too much cared for and monitored?

– All NBO member companies have very good systems and routines in place to detect – and prevent – ​​problem gamblers. In practice, these are large departments and advanced digital solutions that have this sole task. It is a myth that large international companies are worse than Norsk Tipping when it comes to responsible gambling.

– My members collaborate with the same researchers and providers in this field. No one benefits from problem gambling, and as we see in countries with a licensing model, problem gambling has decreased precisely because reputable companies gain a larger market share, concludes Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm.

Tage Pettersen and Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm aren't just receiving pats on the back in their fight to increase competition in gambling in Norway.

"Together for a Responsible Gambling Policy"
On Wednesday, March 5, 74 organizations that received support from Norsk Tipping joined forces to jointly support the current gambling monopoly. The program is called "Together for a Responsible Gambling Policy" and is the first time that the beneficiaries of the benefits have come together around a common position on the issue.

The Norwegian Sports Federation is the largest children's and youth organization in Norway. We cannot be indifferent to how we fund ourselves. A licensing model will result in more problematic gambling behaviors and less money for socially beneficial purposes. The Norwegian Sports Federation is committed to responsibility and profits for socially beneficial purposes, which is why we support the Norwegian gambling model, says Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk, Secretary General of the Norwegian Sports Federation, in a press release.

"Foreign gambling companies are working hard to gain support for switching to a licensing model and are promising more money for volunteers. We believe this will provide more gambling, but not more responsibility or profits. It's not a model that organizations want," she added.

Sørli Lybekk receives support from Secretary General Grete Herlofson of the Norwegian Rescue Society:

"Gambling policy is going in the right direction. In recent years, there has been less gambling addiction, we have a new and strong gambling law, and at the same time, profits going to good causes are increasing. With this program, we will help ensure that," she says. In the same press release, Blue Cross Secretary General Trine Stensen emphasizes the importance of protecting vulnerable gamblers.

– We treat people with gambling addiction and know that Norwegian regulation has a lot to offer. Most of those who come to us have lost a lot of money to foreign gambling companies, which don't have the same liability rules as Norwegian gamblers. Instead of opening the market to foreign gambling companies, we believe it is right to focus on measures that improve the protection and treatment of people with gambling addiction.

– Fighting hard
The organization Gambling Addiction Norway also has its opinion on the transition from a monopoly to a licensing system.

– In Sweden, the licensing model has not resolved the challenges of an unregulated market, and we have the impression that they have not made much progress compared to before moving away from their monopoly. Denmark appears to have been more successful in closing the unregulated market, but is experiencing many more young people becoming addicted to gambling both before and after turning 18. They also face significant challenges with high marketing pressure, especially in sports, where marketing also affects young athletes, says political advisor Magnus Pedersen.

“It is not in our interest to support a licensing model. We want to have as few gambling companies as possible for the Norwegian people and a further reduction or elimination of gambling commercialization in this country. Our conclusion is that we are struggling to see what would be better with a licensing model in Norway, where we give much more power to private players who, in any case, neither want nor can operate with the restrictions we are working for,” he concludes.