Norway’s gambling regulator has issued a new batch of licences allowing postcode and recycling-style lotteries to operate, reinforcing the country’s tightly controlled gambling model while expanding the scope of permitted charitable gaming.
The Norway Gaming Authority (Lotteritilsynet) confirmed that one licence has been awarded for a recycling lottery and 23 licences for postcode lotteries, categories that sit outside Norway’s otherwise strict state monopoly. It is another example of how narrow the exceptions still are.
Limited carve-outs from the monopoly
Norway remains one of the last European jurisdictions to operate a comprehensive gambling monopoly. With limited exceptions, legal gambling is restricted to state-owned operators Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto.
However, existing regulations allow certain non-profit organisations to apply for licences to run specific lottery formats. To qualify, applicants must meet defined criteria, including a cap on annual turnover of NOK 410 million (approximately US$40.7 million). Postcode lotteries and recycling lotteries, known locally as Pantelotteriet, fall within these exemptions. This framework has been in place for some time, although it rarely expands.
Expansion of postcode lottery licences
In the latest licensing round, Lotteritilsynet granted 23 postcode lottery licences, a significant increase from the previous total of just two. Under this model, participants pay to enter their own postcode into prize draws. It is a familiar structure in other European markets.
Successful applicants include several major charitable organisations, among them SOS Children’s Villages, WWF, Redd Barna, Norwegian Church Aid, and Norwegian People’s Aid. Each licensee will work in partnership with Norsk Postkodelotteriet, with around 50% of turnover after prize payouts distributed among the participating charities. The new licences will take effect on 1 March 2026 and run until 28 February 2035. The long duration stands out.
Recycling lottery licence awarded
Alongside the postcode licences, the regulator issued a single licence for the Pantelotteriet recycling lottery. The concept encourages consumers to recycle bottles and cans at collection machines, choosing either a direct refund or lottery entries in exchange. This approach has been promoted as low-risk.
The sole licence was awarded to the Norwegian Red Cross, which will operate the lottery in collaboration with Norsk Pantelotteri, with at least 50% of turnover after winnings directed to charitable causes. The licence will also run through to 2035. Again, the timeline is lengthy, which suggests regulatory comfort rather than experimentation.
Political pressure on the monopoly model
Despite these limited licences, broader access to Norway’s gambling market remains highly restricted. Calls to dismantle the monopoly and introduce a wider licensing regime continue, particularly from the Progress Party, which has advocated reform since its 2021 election manifesto. This argument has not gone away.
Although the party did not enter government following the 2025 election, it increased its parliamentary representation and remains vocal on gambling reform. Party representatives argue that the monopoly model drives significant gambling spend to offshore operators, depriving Norwegian sports and cultural organisations of funding. Whether that claim is fully borne out is still debated.
Regulatory scrutiny of state operators
Pressure on the monopoly model has been amplified by ongoing compliance issues involving state operators. Norsk Tipping has faced multiple penalties from Lotteritilsynet, including fines related to self-exclusion failures and technical errors affecting Eurojackpot and Lotto draws. These incidents have attracted sustained attention.
The operator’s former CEO, Vegar Sagstuen, resigned following a high-profile incident involving incorrect prize notifications. Trond Bentestuen was appointed as his successor at the end of 2025. Regulatory action has also extended to Norsk Rikstoto, which was recently fined NOK 6 million after hundreds of customers were allowed to exceed their preset loss limits due to a system error. It is not an isolated pattern.
Market Impact
The new lottery licences highlight Norway’s willingness to permit tightly defined charitable gaming while preserving its monopoly over mainstream gambling. For charities, the expanded postcode and recycling lottery framework offers a long-term funding channel through to 2035. That much is clear.
At the same time, ongoing political debate and regulatory enforcement against state operators continue to raise questions about the sustainability of the monopoly model. While full market liberalisation remains unlikely in the short term, the growing number of carve-outs and the scrutiny faced by monopoly operators suggest that Norway’s gambling framework will remain under pressure, even if change comes slowly.