The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespill (NBO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). In other words, an agreement to regulate betting in Norway.
Establishing a cooperative framework to promote a safe and effective local licensing and regulatory regime in Norway. Along with specific betting integrity provisions.
Finland is committed to ending its monopoly system for online gaming in favor of a licensing model by 2026.
Thus, the continuation of the monopoly system in Norway goes against the prevailing approach adopted in Europe. Eventually in neighboring countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
H2 Gambling Capital, the leading data and intelligence company for the global online gaming industry, predicts that almost half (43%) of Norway’s online gambling GGR (Gross Gambling Revenue) will be held offshore by 2024.
Details about the partnership
Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, Secretary General of the NBO, said: “Increasingly strong signals indicate that the Norwegian monopoly is not the most effective solution for consumer protection or industry integrity.
Betting is a fully digital and international service that cannot be limited to local peculiarities.
To establish the best possible framework, the provision of online games must be viewed comprehensively and regulated accordingly.
The partnership between NBO and IBIA ensures a joint effort to address responsible practices and support initiatives aimed at minimizing the impact of gambling-related harm.”
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, also spoke. “IBIA welcomes the establishment of the MoU with NBO. We will seek to support the NBO’s challenge to the continuation of the monopoly-style approach to betting in Norway.
The lack of licensing for regulated and responsible betting operators in Norway makes market oversight, consumer protection and the implementation of effective integrity provisions in sports betting difficult.”
IBIA Integrity Report
IBIA is a globally recognized non-profit organization that seeks to protect the integrity of the licensed betting and sports sectors.
Its membership includes more than 50 companies and 125 leading sports betting brands with more than $137 billion in betting volume per year, making IBIA the world’s leading operator-operated integrity monitoring body.
The IBIA health report detailed 50 alerts in the third quarter of 2023, and the publication of the fourth quarter and full year 2023 report is expected in the coming weeks.
The association reported 268 alerts to authorities in 2022. As well as successful sporting or criminal sanctions against 15 teams, officials or players where IBIA had reported suspicious activity at their games.
About IBIA
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) is the leading global voice on integrity for the licensed betting industry.
Our members share the common goal of combating corruption in betting to protect the integrity of sport and its business.
Established in 2005 and formerly known as ESSA, we are a non-profit association whose members include many of the world’s largest regulated betting operators, active across six continents.
The association maintains long-standing information-sharing partnerships with leading sporting bodies. Thus, it includes FIFA, UEFA, ITIA and IOC, and many gaming regulators to use this data and prosecute corruption.
About Norsk Bransjeforening for Onlinespill (NBO)
The NBO aims to promote the implementation of responsible and sustainable licensing regulation for the online gaming market in Norway.
NBO is currently committed to expressing and substantiating the association’s perspectives to politicians, government officials, interest groups, media and the public.
The group encourages all gaming operators to support a responsible licensing model with high channel fees, benefiting players, operators and the public.
