Which are the TOP bookmakers in Norway and where to bet safely?
Online betting in Norway is popular among people in the country as they have plenty of websites to choose from for their betting needs. However, not all bookmakers can meet players’ demands by offering a well-rounded product under the same roof. Here is our table with the recommended betting sites for Norway that will not only meet but exceed your expectations:
- Population: Norway, a Nordic country in the northern part of Europe, has an estimated population of 5.4 million as of 2019. Its main territory composes most of the northern and western part of the Scandinavian peninsula and, along with 2 other territories, makes up the Kingdom of Norway. It is bordered by Sweden to the east, Russia and Finland to the northeast, and the Skagerrak Strait to the south, with Denmark right across.
- Active Players: Around 2.2 million of its population actively gamble, predominantly on Norway sports betting and the state lottery.
- Currency: Norway continues to use the Norwegian krone as its main currency. Due to its status as a non-member of the European Union, Euro is generally not accepted as payment within its borders.
- Regulated Gambling Products: The Norwegian regulating body provides licences to these following gambling products: games of chance, sports betting, lotteries, and fantasy betting.
- Operator Types: There are only two companies that are legally allowed to operate within Norwegian borders. Despite the country’s monopoly on gambling, many international betting sites actively promote and provide services to Norwegian players.
- Designated Authority: The legal governing body that’s responsible for regulating and supervising all aspects about the gambling industry is the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority. It is tasked with controlling all gambling activities, including state and private lotteries, horse betting, and sports betting in Norway.
- Status: Norway has very restrictive laws when it comes to gambling. Currently, only two companies, both state-owned, are allowed to operate within its borders officially. Any other form of gambling is considered illegal. Nevertheless, many sportsbooks and casinos still cater to the Norwegian public due to the little effort being made to prevent them from betting online. Hence, the current status of the Norwegian gambling market can be considered as a grey market, especially since any offenders are not legally prosecuted.
Top 3 Foreign Bookmakers in Norway
Here are the top 3 foreign bookmakers that accept registrations from Norway.
888sport
888sport is a subsidiary of 888 Holdings, a multi-award-winning company, and was launched in March 2008. However, despite its 2008 launch, 888Sport did not get into sports betting until 2010. This betting company is known for maximizing the use of social media for its events. They offer a wide selection of sports betting options; something that can be done before or during the event itself.
The odds are displayed clearly so participants would have a clear idea on what’s going on. Their site is easily accessible, and they offer great bonuses and promotions for all players. They also have an uncomplicated cashier system and a user-friendly interface. However, the only disadvantage is that they don’t offer any virtual sports betting on their site.
Nevertheless, their other selection for sports betting in Norway more than makes up for this.
22bet
This company which is owned by Marikit Holdings Limited is fairly new, having launched only in 2017. Nevertheless, this Cyprus-based bookmaker was developed by professionals, and their wide assortment of betting markets and sports betting options makes it one of the best.
They give the best odds not just for popular events but also for the less conventional ones as well. Aside from that, 22bet also have a live casino, virtual sports betting, and e-sports betting, catering to a wide array of gambling preferences.
They collaborate only with the best service providers to give their clients a one-of-a-kind betting experience. They practice strict security and fairness at all times, ensuring that everyone has a great experience. They also have amazing customer support should you run into any problems.
The only disadvantage is that payment can be slow at times. Despite this, 22Bet still provides a fantastic betting experience overall.
Betway
One of the more established bookmakers in the industry, Betway was founded in 2006 in the UK and offers a wide range of betting options for each sport. Aside from this, they also feature a well-developed online casino that many professionals prefer. They offer relatively high odds for all sports and give you the option of changing the type of odds to whatever you prefer.
Moreover, they also offer virtual sports betting and include not just standard betting options but also less conventional ones as well.
The only downside with Betway is that due to restrictive laws, its operation can be restricted in some European countries. However, many works around this downside by accessing it through a mirror link.
Betway is a proven and established bookmaker whose wide range of betting markets and betting options allows it to cater to many types of clients.
Important Things to Know about Betting Sites in Norway
- Betting Environment
With exceptional living conditions, substantial social programs, and higher-than-average wages, Norway is considered to be among the best countries in the world to live in. Moreover, their higher disposable income means they can invest more in their entertainment, which resulted in an increase in participation in online betting and casinos.
Although their laws are restrictive and can be somewhat confusing when it comes to gambling, many of their citizens continue to enjoy participation in a vast selection of online casino games and Norway sports betting sites. - Competition
The Norwegian government has a less-than-welcoming stance regarding offshore betting sites, and this has resulted in some of the sites’ IP addresses being blocked. Nevertheless, many Norwegians still continue to enjoy access to some of the most prominent bookmakers because of lax monitoring on the part of the service providers. - Operators
Gambling, for the most part, is banned in Norway, and the only two legally operational companies are government monopolies. Norsk Tipping offers games like sports betting, lotteries, Keno, and more. Meanwhile, Norsk Rikstoto is the only one allowed when it comes to horse betting. - Active Players
Among their population of 5.4 million, around 2.2 million people actively participate in gambling activities, making it one of the most popular pastimes among Norwegians. - Key Info for Players in Norway
Aside from the two state-owned companies Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, no other company has been granted a license to operate in Norway. However, despite government attempts to regulate and monopolize the industry, most Norwegians can still access most of Europe’s prominent betting sites. This is because little is done to monitor their online activities and enforce regulations closely. - Gambling Taxes and Players Safety
Despite gambling being predominantly illegal in Norway, Norwegian law states that any winnings from real-money wagers worth NOK 100,000 or more are subject to a 23% tax rate – this includes winnings from foreign betting sites. However, winnings from legal gambling activities done through NorskRikstoto or Norsk Tipping are exempt from this. The same goes for winnings from licensed private operators and public competitions from media promotions.
In terms of safety, betting using the state-owned companies are considered safe while betting using offshore sites pose more of a risk. This is especially true since Norway is not a member of the European Union and therefore isn’t covered by their consumer protection laws.
In the event of fraud, a Norwegian can’t appeal to the European Union Court of Justice. However, most Norwegians are aware of these risks and are, therefore, more careful when picking offshore betting sites.
Sports Betting in Norway: An Overview
Like most countries, Norwegians are also interested in globally popular sports like football. However, they also have a particular love for winter sports such as skiing, handball, and ice hockey. Cross-country skiing is frequently referred to as their national sport. Therefore, when it comes to Norway sports betting, their closely followed and preferred sports continues to be unique.
Available betting markets in most bookmakers
Since they attract many of the most popular bookmakers, Norway enjoys a vast selection of betting markets such as totals and handicaps. They also enjoy a large variety of sports betting options from popular ones like football to their beloved winter sports like cross-country skiing.
What kind of odds format is used in Norway?
Like with the rest of Europe, the decimal form of odds is the most commonly used odds format in Norway.
User experience
Although they have some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in Europe, many Norwegian players still enjoy a great deal of gambling using both their local state-owned companies and offshore betting sites.
Bonuses and promotions for players from Norway
Around 43 million NOK are spent each year on online betting, resulting in a lot of attention from many prominent bookmakers. To entice them to continue and thank them for their continued patronage, these bookmakers offer lucrative bonuses and promotions to Norwegian players. Such rewards and promotions include free bets, boosted odds, and exclusive VIP promos.
Live Betting, Live Streaming & Cash Out Features
Out of all the top 3 foreign betting sites in Norway, only Bet22 doesn’t offer live streaming. However, all 3 of them offer live betting and has cash-out features.
Online Casinos in Norway
While it’s technically illegal to place bets on unlicensed betting sites or anywhere other than the state-owned monopolies, the government doesn’t strictly enforce their anti-gambling laws except for attempts to block the sites’ IP addresses or declining payment through banks.
Also, Norwegian law states that one must declare winnings made in another country. Nevertheless, those who do engage in online casinos or betting aren’t legally prosecuted.
Available methods for withdrawals and deposits
Most Norwegians have turned to use alternative payment methods such as online payment services or e-wallets like virtual cards, Skrill, and local options like Avtalegiro and Bankaxept. This is due to the 2010 Payment Act of Norway which has banned payments made to betting sites through Norwegian banks.
Mobile betting and betting apps
Norwegian players receive services from many of the most popular bookmakers and casinos, most of which have developed cutting-edge technology like mobile apps to keep up with the times. Due to this, Norwegian players enjoy a great deal of access to these apps.
Safety and security
Betting with state-owned companies Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto is generally considered as safe while betting with foreign betting sites poses more of a risk. However, many Norwegians are aware that since they are non-members of the European Union, they have to be more careful when choosing which sites to bet on, especially since they are not covered by their protective laws. A general tip is to stick with the established brands as they have been proven to be safe and secure.
Is customer support good enough for players from Norway?
Due to the large amount of attention that Norwegian players receive from offshore betting sites, major betting companies like 888sport, Bwin, and 22Bet offer excellent customer support to Norwegians to be competitive and attract the continued support of Norwegian players.
FAQs
Which are the best-paying betting sites in Norway?
Some of the best paying betting sites in Norway include 888sport, Bwin, and 22Bet.
What are the best live betting sites in Norway?
All of the top 3 foreign betting sites in Norway have excellent live betting features.
Are there casinos in Norway?
There are actually no brick-and-mortar casinos in Norway; only online ones.
Is it legal for Norwegians to play online?
For the most part, no. Only Norsk Tipping is licenced to provide online casino games in Norway, though many Norwegians enjoy access to offshore betting sites nonetheless.
Are sports betting legal in Norway?
Only Norsk Tipping is legally allowed to provide sports betting services to Norwegians. However, many Norwegians still participate in sports betting in foreign betting sites.
How old do you have to be to gamble in Norway?
You must be aged 18 and above to be able to participate in any gambling activities in Norway.
Is there a minimum I need to deposit when signing up with bookmakers?
Yes, most of them will set a minimum amount when funding and also a maximum amount for each transaction.
Interesting Facts (Did you know that...)
- A national survey has shown that more than 80% of Norway’s total population has gambled once or more times in the last 12 months
- Norway has one of the world’s lowest rates when it comes to gambling problems
- You can have gambling parties as long as they’re for personal use and not for business
- Over 40% of their total population prefer online gambling because of their strict rules in Norway
- No brick-and-mortar casinos operate or even exist in Norway
Are there any restrictions for players from Norway?
Norway’s online gambling laws are considered restrictive and vastly outdated, but since it’s a non-European Union member, it doesn’t feel as much pressure on relaxing these laws and its general stance against gambling.
Only two companies are licensed and legally allowed to provide gambling services to Norwegian citizens and operate within its borders. Despite this, many Norwegians continue to have virtually unlimited access to offshore betting sites, especially the more popular ones.
Moreover, aside from restricting payment from banks, no Norwegian player has been prosecuted for participating in online betting.
Conclusion
Despite government attempts to restrict access of Norwegian players to offshore betting sites and gambling being considered illegal, many still actively participate in online betting on foreign websites.
While this can be a great form of entertainment for many Norwegians, it still poses risks, mainly due to the lack of protective legal coverage from the European Union. However, as long as they stick to the more established betting sites, they can remain safe and enjoy a wonderful betting experience.
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