Norway regulator blocks 57 illegal gambling websites

Lotteritilsynet, Norway's gambling regulator, has ordered the blocking of 57 online gaming websites found operating unlawfully within the country. 

The sites, which are linked to 23 different companies, were blocked as part of an ongoing effort to combat unlicensed gambling activities, the regulator announced on April 1.

The DNS blocking redirects players attempting to access these sites to a page hosted by their internet service provider. The page explains that while the site is illegal, the individual attempting to access it is not breaking the law.

Blocking these sites is a crucial step in addressing gambling-related harm in Norway. This move follows Lotteritilsynet’s warning last autumn to nearly 50 companies that their websites were at risk of being blocked. Of approximately 100 websites operated by these companies, nearly 40 have since withdrawn from the Norwegian market.

While Lotteritilsynet has not disclosed the names of the blocked websites, it confirmed that several major companies were among those that voluntarily exited after the warning.

Blocking is just one of several measures being used to curb illegal and problem gambling, along with restrictions on TV advertising and Norwegian banks preventing transactions to and from unlicensed operators.

Despite these actions, many Norwegians remain unaware of which gambling sites are legal. A survey from Sentio Research Norway AS found that around 50% of players don’t know which operators are approved.