Gambling operator #1 in Norway – Norsk Tipping
The state-owned gambling operator in Norway is Norsk Tipping. It has already entered into an online casino deal with the well-known game manufacturer Playtech and this has now been expanded. The state-owned company Norsk Tipping will now get access to all online casino games that lead the market, so to speak. In return, Playtech can virtually expand its special position in the gambling market in Norway. This special and monopolistic position of Norsk Tipping has been strongly criticized for a very long time. What exactly is the content of the agreement?
For Norsk Tipping the expertise is of high importance
Norsk Tipping owns a gambling monopoly which is very often criticized and this company together with Playtech has now extended the deal in the online casino sector. The English game provider Isle of Man is responsible for Batman & the Joker Jewels, Gladiator, Pink Panther and all of them are well-known real money slot machines. As of now, the largest section of the range can be accessed through North Tipping. Gaming studios like Quickspin, Origins, Rare Stone, Ash and Vikings are also involved.
Also a wide range of VLT (video and lottery terminals) are covered by the deal. Playtech is to deliver an up-to-date range of VLT games to all Norsk Tipping terminals and the whole of Norway is to have access to the offerings. In any case, that’s how the contract envisages it. Therefore, the partners want to cooperate much more closely in this area as well. Establishing content that is customer-specific is the goal of all contract partners.
The VLT agreement between the partners
The head of gaming operations at Norsk Tipping Hans Erland Ringsvold clearly states that Playtech’s expertise is of great importance and value to his company. The partnership has now existed since 2016 and is now to be extended to another. The VLT agreement between the partners has been in place since 2003. Norsk Tipping has gone through a public procurement process for the second time in that time. A sports betting tender has taken place in 2019.
The Chief Operating Officer of Playtech Shimon Akad has also been very pleased and expressed his approval. Norsk Tipping is a firm and, above all, strong player in the regulated market where Playtech is also present. Therefore, they are very pleased to be able to continue to provide online casino games that are modern, responsible and market-leading. The strength of the portfolio is underlined with the extension of the contract. What is also very important for the market in Northern Europe, which is very strongly regulated, and this would also reflect a very high sense of responsibility.
Break times and limits for losses
Shortly after Norsk Tipping lowered the loss limits for one month on high risk games by 25%, the deal with Playtech was extended. This measure will be valid for the whole of December and January.
On games such as Yezz, eFlex, KongKasino and Bingoria, customers are now only allowed to wager up to NOK 7,500. This is equivalent to about 637 euros. The loss limit that can be played daily has also been reduced by half. Also the previously valid break times have been increased by Norsk Tipping, these must be observed by all players after an hour of play in any case. The game break has been 90 seconds and has now increased to a full 15 minutes.
The removal of the previously applicable popularity label on many online casino games is another new measure. In addition, Norsk Tipping has announced that it will not send any emails regarding marketing to customers who are between 18 and 25 years old. All measures are valid since December 01, 2020. The company has announced in January will evaluate and also decide whether the measures will be continued.
Prevent the problems in gambling with Norsk Tipping
The head of Norsk Tipping Åsne Havnelid has said he sees December as one of the months that are most risky for him. Among the population, gambling problems increase very much in this one month in particular. At the moment there is a global crisis and right now more and more people have time and would clearly spend more time gambling. Now it is very important to prevent the increase of problem gambling.
In Norway, the government has been fighting very hard against the problems in gambling for many years, and the situation is similar. The NOK has only now made 15 million available to curb the problem of gambling-related damage. The money made available is put into research, gambling addiction prevention and treatment. All this is financed from the profits of Norsk Tipping, which also launched the campaign in 2005. This campaign is to be continued until 2021. The aim is to minimize the number of problem gamblers and raise awareness.
The monopoly position is criticized by the NBO
Die Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespil (NBO) der norwegische Glücksspiel Verband kritisiert die Monopolstellung sehr stark. Die Norsk Tipping wird aber währenddessen weiter ausgedehnt. Norwegen ist eines den letzten Ländern in ganz Europa die zugelassen haben, dass der Spielerschutz vernachlässigt wurde nur um an den veralteten Regeln festzuhalten. Daher wird der Politik auch ein Versagen vorgeworfen von Seiten des Verbandes.
Für ausländische Anbieter soll stattdessen der Markt geöffnet werden, so die Forderung. Es sollen Lizenzen vergeben und Zahlungssperren sollen verhindert werden und Werbeverbote sollen aufgehoben werden. Nur wenn seriöse Anbieter für ihre Angebote werben können, dann kann der Markt auch erfolgreich analysiert werden. Der Schwarzmarkt legt hingegen nur sehr wenig Wert auf einen Spielerschutz, so lauten die Argumentationen.
LeoVegas der Marktriese aus Schweden ist ebenfalls dieser Meinung und hat diese auch geteilt. Im vergangenen August hat sich LeoVegas der NBO angeschlossen. ComeOn, Betsson Group, GiG und Kindred Group sind alles Führende der Branche und zählen mittlerweile auch dazu. Norsk Tipping und deren Monopol soll abgeschafft werden. Alle Gemeinsam wollen sie sich für die Liberalisierung stark machen. Die Regierung in Norwegen plant hingegen noch weitere Einschränkungen.
