Many people are dealing with social distancing because of the current global situation. Fewer individuals are betting on live sports due to the limited available options, with more choosing to play casino games online. Online casino popularity has risen worldwide as more in-person events are either limited or shut down.
In Norway, however, rates have not increased for providers such as norske casinoer as much as some people would like to think. We’ve spoken to expert Alexandra Nereng, whose profile you can find here, about online gambling and the impact of social isolation on the industry.
Norway has strict regulations on casinos, but the rise in social isolation means it’s opening up more than ever before. Norway is joining the list of countries considering the pros and cons of online gambling. However, there are still many uncertainties to resolve.
For example, in 2016, the percentage of online gambling usage was at 18% across the country. In 2019, after COVID-19 had struck and social isolation became the new norm, the rate had only increased by 1%. The strict regulations in place for Norwegian nationals are the primary reason for this.
Growing in Isolation
While there hasn’t been a dramatic change in online casino usage in Norway, the isolations have brought a little more attention to some of the best online casinos and their promotions. Online gambling slots have also seen more players, with users often offered free spins bonuses and other incentives to try games out.
With the rise in isolation, many people are growing a home game to pass the time. To illustrate, many of those who used to go out to casinos now can’t, so they bring the casino games home by playing online.
Legalities in Norway
Even though gambling online is illegal in Norway, there’s a way around that. For Norwegians to play at online casinos, the operator would need to have a license from the state in the European Union – of which Norway is not a member. It’s associated with the Union through the European Economic Area, where a casino operator can also get the correct license.
To find the best casino in Norway, doing a bit of research is a must. Norsk Tipping is a company that’s appropriately licensed for online casino games, keno, slots, and other popular options. It’s state-owned and operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs.
Payment Solutions
There’s another obstacle with online casinos for players in Norway. Banks are forbidden from facilitating deposits and withdrawals for casino uses. Fortunately, there’s a way to work around this, and most people just make an account with an ewallet or some other form of payment.
Having an ewallet or similar allows you to deposit and withdraw your money without the hassle of the banking restrictions Norwegian’s face when gambling online. Prepaid cards are another potential means of payment for Norwegian players looking to join an online provider.
The most popular prepaid card in Europe is Paysafecard. You can easily buy a voucher for these at a local convenience store.
The Verdict
Norway currently doesn’t have government licensed casinos. However, that’s likely to change soon. Online casino usage since social isolation started has increased by little, but Norwegian players will watch for regulation changes with interest.
When gambling online, Norwegian’s need to keep an eye out for the correct casino licensing before signing up. Players also have to consider their payment methods and which one works best for them. The future is brighter than ever before in Norway, so watch this space.
