Guide To Find The Best Norway Online Casinos

How Gambling in Norway Works

Gambling is a complex topic for Norwegian players. That’s because the laws and regulations around this pastime are somewhat ineffective. The country’s political leaders recognise the need to update gambling legislation, but the focus lies heavily on curbing online gambling addiction.

That said, Norway introduced new gambling legislation as recently as 2021, and today is one of the fastest grown gambling markets in all of Europe. Many of the best online casinos accept Norwegian players and to make things easier, we’ve put together a list of the best Norway online casinos for you.

We know that finding the top online casinos is a daunting process. You want a platform that’s innovative and packed with games and juicy offers. But where do you find them? Right here. For a Norwegian online casino to make our top list, it has to tick all the right boxes during our reviews, including:

• Safety and trustworthiness – safety is the most important feature of any online casino. If it’s not safe or is unlicensed, don’t even go there. Trustworthiness is important, too, as you want reliable service and guaranteed swift payouts. Reliable casinos use safety features like SSL encryption, 2-factor authentication and usernames and passwords.
• Licensing – all Norway online casinos that we recommend are licensed by reputable regulatory bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao, Gibraltar or Alderney.
• Reputation – a good reputation shows that a casino is safe and trustworthy. We don’t just play at Norway online casinos to review them, but also check with real players for feedback on their experiences. We also make sure that casinos are independently audited by companies like iTechLabs and eCogra for transparent and fair gaming.

Want to play at a brick-and-mortar casino in Norway? You won’t find traditional establishments, but Norsk Tipping does have over 1,000 kiosks throughout the country that offer interactive video terminals with a range of games like blackjack, keno, roulette and baccarat.

All this aside, can you safely and legally play at online casinos in Norway? Keep reading to find out what is and isn’t acceptable.

The Legalities of Gambling In Norway

Norwegian players are lucky when it comes to the choice of online casinos available to them. There are hundreds of sites that accept Norwegian players, with many being Norway-friendly in terms of offering Norwegian sites and customer support, accepting Norwegian kroner and offering a plethora of popular casino games, including slots and traditional table games.

This is a country where online casinos are fully regulated, giving you access to operators both in the country and abroad. Currently, two state-owned enterprises control gambling in Norway:

• Norsk Rokstoto
• Norsk Tipping

Norsk Tipping operates under the country’s Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs, imposing and enforcing gambling laws and regulations for Norway online casinos. They also regulate taxation amongst players.

Norwegian players who win 10,000 NOK or less playing online can enjoy tax-free winnings, provided the casino is licensed within the European Union. If you receive winnings over 10,000 NOK, you will incur a 28% taxation. This sounds hefty, but it isn’t when you consider gambling tax in other countries such as:

• Luxembourg 80%
• Germany 90%
• Denmark 75%
• Austria 80%
• France 80%

The Norwegian Gambling Authority

Online gambling is strictly monitored in Norway. We’ve mentioned the two authorities, with Norsk Tipping controlling online gambling, instant betting games and sports betting, while Norsk Rikstoto controls all animal-related betting.

While gambling at offshore casinos was strictly forbidden, things changed in 2021 and Norwegians are now free to play at sites operated by companies in other countries.

Norwegian operators that are managed and based in the country but provide gambling activities via offshore sites or servers are within the country’s gambling jurisdiction but are prohibited from providing, marketing and distributing gambling activities without a valid license.

The Norwegian Gaming Authority considers gambling activities that are targeted at citizens if the website is available in Norwegian, has a Norwegian representative and customer support, offers games in NOK and encourages circumvention of the prohibition on blocking payments.

Norway’s Gambling Act of 2021

The new gambling legislation states that Norway’s state monopoly sites can now offer lottery games, keno and sports betting. But they’re forbidden from offering slot machines or poker games.

What’s more, political leaders are said to be considering imposing betting and time limits. The idea is to programme casino software to automatically block players from a site if they’ve been playing for an extended period of time.

The priority, though, is to create a Norwegian regulatory framework that combines the older laws to create a unified system.

For Norwegian players, the new laws don’t mean a whole lot. Just that you now have two options:

• Play at offshore casinos that accept players from Norway
• Use Norway online casinos that are state-regulated

The Best Norwegian Casino Games From The Top Developers

Norwegian players have access to a wide variety of games, thanks to the legality of Norway online casinos. While the state-owned platforms are a little limited, you can still play all the best games at offshore casinos.

Reels Of Rolling Paylines

Like pretty much any country, slots are the most popular game amongst Norwegians, deposit Norway online casinos do not feature as many titles as offshore operators. Norwegians like to play all types of slots from the best developers along with progressive jackpots. There are several popular Nordic-themed slots, too, such as:

• Thunderstruck II
• Hall of Gods
• Treasures of Thor
• Viking Gods: Thor & Loki
• Viking Mania
• Vikings Go Wild
• Dragon Ship
• Troll Hunters

While you can get started at casinos using demo versions or free play mode, the key to success with slots is to have a set budget to stick to. Playing slots for real money means the chance to win big and you can take full advantage of the best Norwegian casino bonuses.

Copious Card Games

Card games like baccarat and blackjack are permitted in Norway and you’ll often find variations of these at the best Norway online casinos run by Norsk Tipping along with roulette. These games are provided by major developers, such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Playtech.

Take A Punt On Poker

Poker games are a little harder to come by at Norwegian online casinos. In fact, you won’t find online poker rooms at local online casinos, so you’ll need to play offshore if poker is your thing, but you will find plenty of table, live dealer and video poker variations out there.

Interestingly, the annual National Poker Championships have been allowed since 2014 and since 2015, low stakes poker in private homes between friends has been allowed. In fact, it’s legal to play poker at home with up to 20 players, provided the total stake per player is not more than 1,000 NOK and the game is neither of professional character nor an organised tournament.

Bingo! Lottery Games Are Acceptable

Lottery games also fall under the control of Norsk Tipping and include games like keno, Tipping, Oddsen and Flax. You’ll even find the state lottery games at Norway online casinos, making sure you enjoy a one-stop gambling experience.

But that’s not all you’ll find. The best online casinos cover other games, too, like bingo and other games of chance. Speaking of bingo, you won’t find loads of bingo rooms at local online casinos, but you will find plenty at offshore platforms.

Limited Sports Betting

Sports betting is fully legal in Norway, and you can often take a punt from within an online casino. But you might find the range of markets a tad limited compared to international online sportsbooks.

As we mentioned, the local sports betting market is regulated by Norsk Tipping and while the government has tried to keep betting on a national level, most players seek out European sportsbooks that offer great bonuses and functionality along with plenty of markets.

Interestingly, Norwegian banks have been instructed not to permit card transactions and bank transfers, but many casinos do authorise these payment methods.

Glitz And Glamour At Live Casinos In Norway

Live Casino games can be played on PC, Mac or even mobile devices. They’re hosted by real casinos in a regulated setting and streamed from studios in Europe and sometimes abroad, complete with professionally trained and well-presented dealers.

Live casinos are monitored around the clock and boast floor persons, pit bosses and supervisors, bringing the complete land-based experience to your screen. Thanks to audio-visual feed, skilled dealers and live streaming, high-definition camera, you can watch all the gaming unfold in real-time at the best Norway online casinos. Popular games in this genre include:

• Live Blackjack
• Live Game Shows
• Live Roulette
• Live Baccarat
• Live Texas Hold’em
• Super Sic Bo

With live games, you can interact with the dealer and other players in real-time, and often in Norwegian if the casino offers local dealers. You can check out our reviews of online casinos to find live casinos that stock a variety of betting options, game types and multi-device functionality.

No Need To Gamble From Home, Norwegian Mobile Casinos

Norwegians love to gamble on the go. As technology has advanced in the country, Norway has become home to world-class mobile companies like ICE.net, Telenor Mobil and NetCom Network Norway and over 96% of people in Norway have access to a smartphone.

As a result, there’s been a rapid rise in mobile gambling, even with the limited number of Norway online casinos. Android and iOS tablets and smartphones account for the bulk of mobile gambling that takes place in the country, while mobile-optimised content and handy apps ensure uninterrupted connectivity and seamless gameplay on the move.

Best of all, more and more games are being offered at mobile casinos, including live dealer games. Mobile casino games are optimised for smaller screens to ensure optimal gameplay despite very slightly limited functionality. You can deposit and withdraw, register, contact customer support, claim bonuses and play all the best mobile games anywhere and anytime at local or overseas online casinos.

A Pool Of Promotions At Norwegian Online Casinos

Don’t let the limited number of Norway online casinos fool you. Each of these sites wants your business (as do the top offshore casino operators) which is why they entice you to sign up and keep playing with tempting bonuses and promotions.

Of course, some casinos have better offers and wagering requirements than others, which is why it’s worth shopping around before you sign up or claim a bonus.

Here’s an overview of the most common offers you’ll come across.

• Welcome bonus – also called a signup bonus, these can be split into no deposit bonuses for signing up and deposit bonuses, which are awarded when you make your first real money deposit. Match deposit bonuses reward you with extra credit at a fixed percentage of your deposit, like a 100% match deposit bonus up to a specified amount.
• Free spins – most Norwegian gambling sites offer free spins on popular titles like Book of Dead and Starburst, either as a seasonal offer or as part of the welcome bonus, and even sometimes when a new title is released. You can use your free spins on exciting themes either on your desktop or mobile device while getting a feel for a casino and how it operates.
• Reload bonus – the best Norway online casinos offer reload bonuses on your second and subsequent deposits. The difference between the welcome bonus and a reload bonus is that the percentage offered for a reload bonus tends to be less on your future deposits. Nonetheless, they’re a great way to boost your existing gaming budget and keep you playing on a particular platform.
• Cashback bonus – a cashback bonus may be offered to new or existing players, depending on the casino. The offer gives you a refund on losing bets up to a certain amount or percentage.
• Loyalty/VIP bonuses – VIP bonuses are an excellent way for casinos to reward you for constantly playing (and depositing) on their platform, especially if you’re a high roller. When you join a VIP club at Norway online casinos, you can look forward to exclusive prizes, giveaways, free spins, higher and faster withdrawals and your very own account manager.

Responsible Gambling In Norway

Online gambling should be safe and fun, which is why you should never chase your losses. Always take regular breaks and stop gambling if it’s not fun or start interfering with your daily life. If you need to speak to someone when things get out of hand, you can contact Norway’s responsible gambling organisation, Hjelpelinnjen.

Players who sign up at Norway online casinos or at offshore casinos from Norway must be 18 years or older. On the bright side, problem gambling affects less than 1% of Norway’s adult population, which places the country in the lower part of the international problem gambling range.

Both local Norway online casinos and those based in other countries are equipped with several responsible gambling tools, like budget tools, loss limits, time limits and the ability to self-exclude.

Besides the Hjelpelinnjen, there are two main providers of self-help groups for problem gamblers in the country. They are Gambling Addiction Norway and Gamblers Anonymous.

As of 1 January 2021, the Norwegian Media Authority, Medietilsynet has the right to stop the illegal marketing of any gambling activities on local television and any other audiovisual services.

Exciting Times Ahead For Norwegian Gamblers

Like most countries that tried to put the breaks on online gambling, Norway realised that it’s a losing battle. No matter how strict policies are, players will still play at licensed offshore casinos. There was a time when the Norwegian government tried to outlaw internet gambling and unlawfully implemented the 2006 Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to stop Norwegian banks from processing transactions to and from foreign internet casinos.

This didn’t last very long and 2021 became a turning point for the country and Norwegian gamblers. Now there is a solid legislative framework in place that makes it legal to play at offshore and Norway online casinos for free and for real money.

Now, you can play all your favourite games, claim exciting bonuses and often play in Norwegian krone, all from the comfort of home or on your mobile device.