Top Norway gambling sites & apps 2026
Norway has regulated gambling options available to residents, but it is different to other European nations, in that they have a state-run Monopoly over land-based wagering, online casinos and sports betting. Despite this, it is not illegal for Norwegians to gamble with offshore gambling sites, even though authorities actively block and police payments to these operators. Open to those 18 years and older, legal gambling forms in Norway include sports betting, online casinos, lotteries and horse racing. Gambling in Norway is regulated by the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority (Lotteritilsynet). Below we will break down online gambling in Norway, legal forms of real money gambling, top gambling sites and apps, payment options and more.
Best Norway gambling sites 2026
The no.1 and only legal real money gambling site in Norway is Norsk tipping, which is the state-backed website, which holds the monopoly rights for the Nordic country.
The main regulatory authority for online gambling is the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority (Lotteritilsynet), which enforces gambling law, blocks unlicensed sites, and restricts advertising and payments to them.
Despite Norsk tipping holding the monopoly for all forms of online gambling (you can even buy lottery tickets via their website), Norwegians still frequent gambling sites based in offshore locations, with these including many brands based in places like Malta and Curacao.
The top gambling sites have got both online slots and table games, basically mirroring what you would find at a land-based casino, but in digital format. Live casino games available include blackjack, roulette and various formats of poker.
Online gambling site sin Norway can be accessed via computer, mobile website and even via apps, with most gambling sites catering extensively to Android and iOS smartphones and tablets (including Norsk tipping). However, if you are accessing offshore gambling sites on an Apple product, you will need to do so via your browser.
Many online casinos in Norway have upwards of 2000 slots games, with these from a variety of providers, although most of the big names don’t allow their games to be marketed in this country.
Funding methods at Norsk tipping include credit and debit cards, Vipps, which is Norways’ national payment app and bank transfers via Giropay.
Payment methods Norwegians use at offshore gambling sites include Visa and Mastercard, cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, Ethereum etc), web wallets (which can help get around payment blocking) and a bevy of pre-paid card options.
Norsk tipping website
The Norsk Tipping website is the official online platform of Norway’s state-owned gambling monopoly, offering lotteries, sports betting, and a limited range of casino-style games. It is the only legal, fully licensed gambling website of its kind in Norway, operating under a strict monopoly model rather than an open licensing system.
The site is designed around consumer protection, with mandatory player registration, spending limits, and prominent responsible-gambling tools built into every product. In terms of content, Norsk Tipping focuses on national lottery games, fixed-odds sports betting, and horse racing rather than the broad casino libraries seen on international sites.
For Norwegian players seeking a legal option, Norsk Tipping is the sole authorised operator and represents the government’s tightly controlled approach to online gambling.
Real money gambling in Norway
Norwegians can access a bevy of offshore online casino games with these including online slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker and many others.
Gambling Guides
Norwegians have both regulated and offshore gambling sites they can access. Check out our coverage of global online casinos and gambling.
Online Poker
Norway’s Espen Uhlen Jørstad won the 2022 World Series of Poker Main Event and is now a household name in his home country. Learn how to play online poker in our extensive guides.
Casino Games & Rules
Still learning the ropes of specific casino games? Dive into our extensive games, rules and strategy guides.
Sports gambling
Norwegians love their football, but there is fans of many international sporting events.
- Football betting
- Basketball betting
- FIFA World Cup
- Tennis betting
- Table tennis betting
- Bundesliga betting
- Sports betting
Live gambling sites
Live casino games are accessible in Norway, with blackjack, roulette and baccarat at the top of the pile. Navigate the top live casino sites in Norway.
Horse Racing
Norwegian horse racing is a niche but established sport centred on harness racing rather than flat racing, with events primarily organised by the Norwegian Trotting Association and betting historically channelled through the state monopoly system.
Traditional gambling games in Norway
Svarteper
Svarteper is a simple card game built around pairs and avoidance. A deck of paired cards is used, with one unpaired “Svarteper” (Black Peter) card added. The cards are shuffled and dealt evenly. Players discard matching pairs from their hand, then take turns drawing a card at random from the next player. Whenever a new pair is formed, it is discarded immediately. Play continues until all pairs are gone, leaving one player holding the lone Svarteper card — that player loses.
Traditionally, the game is played for fun, but it has often been adapted for light wagering. Common stakes include small cash amounts, buying the next round of drinks, or performing a forfeit, making it popular in informal social settings rather than organised gambling.
Lotto and numbers games
Lottery-style gambling has a long history in Norway, rooted in informal community games, number pools, and raffles long before modern regulation. Workers, sports clubs, and local groups often organised small lotteries to raise funds, with cash or goods as prizes. These games were simple, social, and widely accepted, even during periods when commercial gambling was frowned upon.
This tradition was formalised in 1948 with the creation of Norsk Tipping, which introduced state-run Lotto and later Vikinglotto. These games preserved the communal appeal of earlier number draws while bringing gambling under strict state control, ensuring profits supported public and sporting causes rather than private operators.
Best gambling apps in Norway
Betway review
Norwegians can gamble with a plethora of offshore companies, despite having regulated options, although casino apps can be a little bit restricted – depending on your device.
Norway operates under a strict gambling monopoly, with legal online gambling offered primarily through Norsk Tipping. Despite this, many players still choose offshore gambling apps and mobile casino platforms that accept Norwegian customers, particularly for online casino games that are not widely available under the domestic framework.
One of the biggest limitations affects iOS users. Offshore casino apps are generally restricted on Apple’s iOS ecosystem, meaning most international casino operators do not offer native iPhone or iPad apps in Norway. Instead, players typically access these platforms via mobile-optimised browser sites or progressive web apps, which replicate app-like functionality without App Store approval.
This restriction matters more in Norway than in most countries. iOS dominates the Norwegian mobile market, accounting for approximately 55–60% of users, while Android sits at around 40–45%. This runs counter to the global trend, where Android holds more than 70% market share. Norway’s high disposable income has made premium devices more accessible, placing it alongside countries such as the US and Japan, where iOS usage exceeds 60%.
App usage data reinforces this dominance. Studies suggest up to 67% of users of popular apps in Norway are on iOS, with higher engagement and retention rates than Android users. While Android remains popular among younger demographics, particularly users aged 25–34, iOS remains the primary platform for app development and usage nationwide.
As a result, gambling apps in Norway often favour Android for downloadable casino apps, while iOS players rely heavily on browser-based solutions. For Norwegian users seeking offshore casino options, understanding these platform differences is key to choosing the best mobile gambling experience.
Android users have the options of downloading non-market casino apps, which is a setting on the device, which allows you to download APK’s directly from sources outside Google Play. As long as the website has a good reputation, there is no reason not to use these Android gambling apps.
Gambling in Norway
Gambling in Norway is shaped by one of the strictest regulatory models in Europe, built around a long-standing state monopoly and a strong public policy focus on harm prevention. Rather than licensing multiple private operators, Norway allows only a small number of government-authorised organisations to offer gambling, both online and offline. Oversight is handled by the Norwegian Gambling Authority (Lotteritilsynet), which enforces compliance, restricts advertising, and blocks unlicensed operators from targeting Norwegian players.
Historically, gambling in Norway has included a mix of informal and organised activities. Small-stakes card games, including poker, have traditionally been played privately among friends, though commercial poker games have long been restricted. Betting pools, raffles, and charity lotteries have also been common, particularly through local sports clubs and community organisations. These activities are still permitted today, but only under tightly controlled conditions and without a profit motive.
Modern legal gambling in Norway is dominated by the state-owned operator Norsk Tipping. Norsk Tipping runs the national lottery system, offering popular games such as Lotto, Eurojackpot, and Vikinglotto, alongside scratch cards and number games. The national lottery plays a central role in Norwegian gambling culture, with proceeds directed toward sports, culture, and public-interest causes. Participation is widespread, but spending limits and mandatory player identification are enforced to reduce gambling harm.
Sports betting is also legal in Norway, but only when offered by Norsk Tipping. Fixed-odds betting on domestic and international sports is available online and through retail outlets, with football, winter sports, and international tournaments among the most popular markets. Private or foreign sportsbooks cannot be licensed in Norway, and advertising for offshore betting sites is prohibited. Despite this, many Norwegian players are aware of international betting platforms, which operate in a legal grey area from the player’s perspective.
Online casinos follow the same monopoly principle. Casino-style games such as slots, roulette, and card games are legally available only through Norsk Tipping’s online platform. There is no open licensing system for commercial online casinos, and foreign operators are not permitted to target Norwegian customers. While players are not criminally prosecuted for using offshore casino sites, the government actively restricts access through payment blocking and DNS website blocking.
Land-based gambling venues are extremely limited. Norway does not permit traditional brick-and-mortar casinos, and this effective ban has been in place for decades as part of the country’s restrictive gambling policy. Slot machines were removed from most public venues in the mid-2000s and later reintroduced only in tightly controlled, state-operated formats. As a result, Norway has no casino floors comparable to those found elsewhere in Europe.
Horse racing occupies a distinct position within Norwegian gambling. Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing is legally offered through Norsk Rikstoto, which holds exclusive rights to racing bets. Norway does have an active horse racing scene, particularly trotting, though it is smaller than in countries like Sweden or France. Racing remains popular among dedicated bettors, and profits are reinvested into the sport and related activities.
Overall, gambling in Norway is tightly controlled, socially cautious, and centred on public ownership rather than commercial competition. Legal options exist across lotteries, sports betting, online casino games, and horse racing, but always within a monopoly framework. Offshore gambling continues to exist on the margins, yet the Norwegian model prioritises consumer protection and public benefit over market expansion.
Gambling laws in Norway
Norway enforces a strict state monopoly on gambling, meaning most forms of gambling can only be offered legally by government-authorised entities under Norwegian law.
Norway’s gambling laws are among the strictest in Europe. Legal online gambling is limited to state-owned platforms such as Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, with no open market for private casinos or sportsbooks.
Offshore gambling exists in a legal grey area for players, but access is increasingly restricted through payment and website blocking rather than criminal enforcement.
The primary regulatory body is the Norwegian Gambling Authority (Lotteritilsynet), which supervises all legal gambling activities and enforces compliance.
Norway does not license any casinos, with just a small number of lottery and sports betting outlets available across the country.
The Gaming Scheme Act is the main legislation that governs gambling in Norway, with it essentially handing monopoly rights of the industry to the government and does not allow private licenses.
The Lotteries act polices the national lottery, while the Totalisator Act allows horse racing betting.
Key Legislation surrounding gambling in Norway
- Gaming Scheme Act (Pengespilloven) – the main framework that gives the state monopoly rights over gambling and prohibits commercial operators from issuing ordinary licences to private gambling companies. Only operators with specific statutory rights can offer games to Norwegian residents.
- Lottery Act (1995) – defines and regulates lotteries and other games, providing the historical basis for state control.
- Totalisator Act (1927) – initially permitted the foundation that became Norsk Rikstoto to carry out horse betting.
- Penal Code provisions (§§ 298, 299) historically banned games of chance outside state permission, forming the source of the monopoly system.
Payment options at Norwegian gambling sites (NOK & EUR)
Norwegian players encounter very different currency and payment options depending on whether they gamble with Norsk Tipping or at offshore gambling sites.
Norsk Tipping operates entirely in Norwegian kroner (NOK), removing any currency conversion costs or exchange rate risk for players. Deposits and withdrawals are tightly integrated with the domestic banking system, using familiar methods such as bank cards, Vipps, direct bank transfers with KID numbers, and cash deposits via authorised retailers. Winnings are paid back in NOK, directly to the player’s registered bank account, making the process simple, transparent, and fully aligned with Norwegian consumer protection rules.
Offshore gambling sites, by contrast, typically operate in multiple currencies. While many allow accounts to be held in euros (EUR) or sometimes NOK, currency conversion fees can apply when depositing or withdrawing via cards or bank transfers.
To manage this, Norwegian players often use intermediary gambling payment methods such as Skrill, Neteller, Trustly, or prepaid vouchers like Paysafecard and Neosurf, which can help reduce friction and improve transaction success rates. Some offshore casinos also support cryptocurrencies, allowing deposits and withdrawals without traditional banking rails, although volatility and conversion considerations remain.
| Norsk Tipping (regulated) | Offshore casinos (Norwegian players) |
|---|---|
| Player account balance (Spillerkonto) | Skrill |
| Bank card (Visa / Mastercard) | Neteller |
| Vipps | PaySafeCard |
| Direct bank transfer (konto + KID) | Neosurf |
| Cash deposits via Norsk Tipping retailers | Trustly / pay-by-bank |
| Visa / Mastercard (via intermediaries) | |
| Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins) |
Norway gambling FAQ
Do you have a question about online gambling in Norway? Drop us a message in the box below or email us at contact@worldgamblinglist.com.
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Is online gambling legal in Norway?
Online gambling is partially legal in Norway. The market operates under a state monopoly model, where Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are the only companies licensed to offer online gambling services to Norwegian residents.
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Can Norwegians legally use offshore gambling sites?
Yes. Norwegian law does not criminalise players for using offshore gambling sites. While authorities restrict marketing and payment processing for unlicensed operators, individual players are not punished for gambling with international sites.
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Are online casinos legal in Norway?
Online casinos are not licensed domestically, meaning Norsk Tipping does not offer traditional casino games. However, Norwegians widely access offshore online casinos, which remain legal for players despite being unregulated locally.
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Is online sports betting legal in Norway?
Yes. Sports betting is legal through Norsk Tipping, which holds exclusive rights. Offshore betting sites are also commonly used by Norwegian bettors.
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Are there gambling payment restrictions in Norway?
Yes. Norwegian banks are required to block payments to unlicensed gambling sites, though many offshore sites still offer alternative payment methods such as e-wallets and international card processing. Instances of payment blocking include Vipps and various credit and debit cards.
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Is gambling advertising allowed in Norway?
Only licensed state operators may advertise. Offshore gambling advertising is prohibited, though enforcement mainly targets media companies rather than players.
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What is the legal gambling age in Norway?
The legal gambling age is 18 for most gambling products, and 21 for certain high-risk games offered by Norsk Tipping.
