The proposal covers both tournament poker and cash games, and comes with a shortened consultation window, running until November 29, 2026, so the government can move quickly if it approves the changes. Norway currently blocks commercial gambling operators from marketing to Norwegian players, and many foreign poker brands have already exited the market, including PokerStars in 2023, along with Unibet and 888. Despite that, a 2022 University of Bergen survey found close to 90,000 Norwegians still play online poker through overseas sites each year, and Norsk Tipping’s own estimates put the real number between 100,000 and 150,000 players annually.
Minister Lubna Jaffery stated:
“Many Norwegians play online poker. It is better that we get a responsible and safer offer here in Norway, rather than unregulated games at foreign, commercial gaming companies.”
However, the draft rules come with strict limits, as players would face a daily loss cap of NOK5,000 and a monthly cap of NOK10,000, dropping to NOK2,000 a month for anyone under 20. Tournament buy-ins would max out at NOK2,500, cash game buy-ins at NOK1,000, and blinds would be capped at NOK10 for the big blind. Players could only sit at four tables at once; tournament players would need a break every hour, and switching from poker straight into online casino games would trigger a forced 15-minute pause. The consultation also asks whether online poker ads should be banned or just heavily restricted.
