According to the three main laws governing Norwegian betting regulation, namely the Totalizator Act, the Gaming Scheme Act, and the Lottery Act—betting is fully legal in Norway.
Although they are highly controlled, there exist only two government-owned businesses who have authorization to carry out lawful gambling: Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto. Both of these companies are the sole entities authorized to make horse race bets, sporting bets, lotteries, and other Norway gambling.
But things are different with internet gambling! The news of the day is that there is no legal issue with online gambling, as long as the operator of the bet is overseas-based.
This implies that it is perfectly legal to place bets with bookmakers such as Unibet, Bet365, etc., because they operate in nations such as Malta.
But Norwegian banks don't allow the money to be sent to the casinos or bookmaking companies directly. So, money is usually sent through third-party accounts like Skrill or PayPal.
Internet gambling is allowed for Norwegians—you can do with your time and money as you choose. But Norwegian banks can't send the money directly to overseas betting sites.
When gambling with luck, tax is something that confuses people to no end. It may appear to do so at first, but does not necessarily have to. We shall keep it straightforward. The principle is as follows: if you win a gamble that gets you a source of income above NOK 10,000* (kr), you have to pay tax on your winnings of 28%.
*Approximately €991
For example, if Leeds United has a 5.0 probability of defeating Liverpool away in the FA Cup, and you stake NOK 5,000 on Leeds. When Leeds win, your total pay-out is NOK 25,000 (NOK 5,000 x 5.0). Subtracting your initial stake, your profit is NOK 20,000. You will have to pay tax on winnings: NOK 20,000 x 0.28 = NOK 5,600.
If you win NOK 20,000 through a single bet, you will pay NOK 5,600 in tax, and you will be paid NOK 14,400 (NOK 20,000 - NOK 5,600 = NOK 14,400).
Note: Only in case the single bet wins are more than NOK 10,000. Therefore, you can win NOK 9,999 through each single bet without paying even a single penny as tax.
But one exception: if you bet on chance in one of the government-operated halls (Norsk Tipping or Norsk Rikstoto), you owe the taxman nothing—wins at these halls are tax-free on the spot!
Disclaimer: We do not provide legal advice. While we have researched this information extensively, be sure that you are in compliance with the tax laws applicable in your country of residence.
There are various parameters to consider while choosing a bookmaker, such as margin, quality of customer care, welcome bonus, etc.
You, as a Norwegian citizen, have numerous operators to choose from. Feel free to reach us if you are looking for bookmaker information within your area!
Sport betting is extremely common in Norway—much more than you would ever have thought. The statistics show that over 2.2 million Norwegians have some form of betting or lottery game in progress, which adds up to nearly half the population!
Wins excluded, Norwegians bet a total of over €1.1 billion annually—roughly €250 per person. But considerably fewer than that number bet with off-shore bookmakers; roughly 250,000 Norwegians do.
But of course, sports betting is very popular in Norway—so why not take advantage of it?
Lastly, gambling in Norway is legal but tightly regulated by the state. There are only two government-owned operators licensed to provide services, but online gaming via foreign websites is allowed and widely used. This offers more selection and improved odds for bettors. However, one should be aware of restrictions on bank transfers and taxation of winnings. It can be an enjoyable hobby if done cautiously—yet it carries risks that should not be taken for granted. Understanding the rules is the key to being in the safe side and to maximizing your experience. Smart gambling is always the intelligent bet.
