Norway’s state-owned gaming operator, Norsk Tipping, is under regulatory scrutiny following allegations that minors may have used its platform. The Norwegian Gambling Authority, Lotteritilsynet, initiated the investigation after a bank reported significant financial transfers—amounting to 100,000 NOK—from an account belonging to an underage individual to a Norsk Tipping customer account over a year. Although the gambling account wasn’t registered in the minor’s name, the regulator suspects that an adult may have shared their credentials, enabling the minor to access the platform.

Focus on age verification and payment methods:

This incident triggered concerns about potential violations of both the Gambling Act and the Money Laundering Act. Under Norwegian law, all customers must be at least 18 years old to legally participate in gambling activities. On May 15, Lotteritilsynet sent an official letter to Norsk Tipping outlining nine key questions about the incident. The operator has been given a two-week deadline to provide its responses.

The regulator’s letter (pdf), authored by legal advisors Anya Therese Markhus and Monica Alisøy Kjelsnes, centers around Norsk Tipping’s risk controls, particularly regarding its use of digital payment systems. Lotteritilsynet wants to know when Norsk Tipping introduced Apple Pay and Vipps, and what risk assessments were carried out at the time. The authority is especially interested in whether these payment methods comply with Section 7 of the Gambling Act, which mandates effective safeguards against account misuse, and how these systems align with the Money Laundering Act—particularly in cases where it’s unclear who owns the deposited funds.

Since January 2024, Norsk Tipping has reportedly received 21 similar warnings involving suspected underage usage. Lotteritilsynet is now asking why the operator didn’t report these incidents and whether it has taken action in each case.

Department Director Tore Bell emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. “It is too early to determine what has happened. We will investigate the matter further and have asked Norsk Tipping for more information,” he said.

Possible penalties and political implications:

Depending on the findings, the regulator could take various actions. According to SBC News, the mildest outcome would be a formal order requiring Norsk Tipping to tighten its age verification processes. If the issue is more serious, Lotteritilsynet may impose daily fines until compliance failures are rectified. In cases of confirmed negligence, financial penalties could be calculated based on the company’s gross gaming revenue. Although the suspension of Norsk Tipping’s license is legally possible, it remains unlikely due to the operator’s state-owned status.

Still, the implications go beyond regulatory enforcement. Norsk Tipping is already under growing political pressure from advocates calling for a transition to a licensing system similar to Finland’s. A high-profile compliance failure could add fuel to these arguments and weaken the government’s defense of Norway’s gambling monopoly.

This is not the first time Norsk Tipping has faced regulatory heat. In early 2024, the operator was fined NOK36 million (about €3.1 million) after a software glitch on its iOS app prevented users from accessing the self-exclusion feature. The fault persisted from January to May before Norsk Tipping reported and resolved it in June.

Despite these issues, the regulator claims progress in curbing unlicensed gambling. According to recent figures, player participation at Norsk Tipping rose by 11 percent in 2024, with over 2 million users. Norsk Rikstoto, the country’s other licensed operator, also saw gains, and the combined annual revenue from both grew by 19 percent year-over-year. At the same time, estimated revenue from unlicensed operators dropped by 18 percent, suggesting enforcement efforts are having an effect.