Online Casino News from Scandinavia

Norway wants to exclude foreign competition in online gambling and is reaping a drop in player numbers with tough measures. In Denmark, on the other hand, online casinos are celebrating success.

Norway’s strict approach to international competition in online gambling

In Norway, the state has power over online gambling. So Norwegians can only access the limited offer of state-run gambling companies. In order to maintain its monopoly position, the Norwegian gaming authority Lotteritilsynet has taken measures to drive international competitors out of the market. The first successes have already been achieved. According to the Gaming Authority, only 10 percent of Norwegian players took advantage of the offer of foreign gaming providers last year. Compared to previous years, where this figure was still 30 percent, this is a significant decline. It is interesting to note, however, that the number of players has not redistributed as expected and in return, Norwegian games of chance are better accepted, but online games of chance are generally less popular in Norway.

As early as 2017, the Norwegian Gaming Authority called on banks to refuse payments to foreign online casino providers and payment intermediaries in order to maintain the state monopoly on gambling. As the next step, the institution is planning an advertising ban for international online casino operators. To this end, the Norwegian media supervisory authority will be instructed to remove such advertising content or to ban its broadcast. Potential advertising losses of the transmitters are thereby ignored. The authority even goes so far that broadcasters based in another country, but which can be received in Norway, have received warnings.

Finland as a positive counter-example?

While Norway tries, by all means, to keep online gambling in state hands, Finland seems to sit back and relax. Who is the best of the best on the Finnish gaming market can be read on Kasinohai. Here you can find rankings and bonus programs for the best newest online casinos. Or as the Finn would say: uusimmat nettikasinot 2019.

Online casinos on the advance in Denmark

There are happy news for online casino providers from Denmark. In the last quarter of 2018, the share of the online gaming market increased by an estimated 1.9 percent compared to the previous quarter. The main reason for the increase is sports betting. These seem to be very popular among Danish players. With a proud 40 percent share of the gaming sector, online betting remains the dominant sector.

Despite the impressive figure, this actually meant a decline in revenue from online betting. Online casinos, on the other hand, recorded an increase in turnover of 4.3 percent, setting a new record. If you want to find out what makes Danish online casinos so attractive, you will find a selection of the best online casinos in Denmark at danske casinoer. Unlike in Norway, the fear of international competition in online gaming does not seem to be an issue here either. There are even Danish sites that publish rankings about udenlandske casinoer (in English: foreign casinos).