The Norwegian economy is one of the strongest globally, and most of the population is well off in terms of disposable income. The country ranks high for living standards, education, and life expectancy. Residents have shown a keen interest in games of chance, from football betting and poker to online eSports betting. Nevertheless, stringent laws and regulations have been implemented to restrict gambling activity because the state does not support this interest in sports betting, card games, and similar pursuits.
Since most Norwegians can afford to set aside a portion of their income for betting, a significant number of offshore sportsbooks have expanded their services to Norway. Due to the increasing interest in competitive games, some Norwegian middle schools have incorporated eSports into the curriculum.
The country has some world-renowned professional video gamers who continue to inspire the younger generation. With numerous eSports superstars emerging from this country, eSports betting in Norway has risen to prominence in the last couple of years.
Citizens looking to predict outcomes of their favorite players, matches, and tournaments make their dreams a reality by visiting the best e-gaming betting sites in Norway. This is a comprehensive guide for eSports bettors in Norway.
Bookies aimed at a Norwegian market provide thousands of video game betting opportunities. There’s an ever-increasing range of games, tournaments, and leagues on the best eSports betting sites for Norway. Every year, there seems to be another title set to trigger an intense sensation among the fans.
From PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) to Hearthstone, something exciting is bound to emerge in the eSports betting scene. Some Norwegian bettors prefer simple games such as Street Fighter V, while passionate buffs stick to titles that demand some advanced strategies, such as StarCraft II. Card video games like Hearthstone are making big waves in the eSports world, and there is no shortage of ways to bet on them.
They also come with a broad spectrum of niches from popular to lesser-known ones, e.g., H1Z1, which is offered for free on sportsbooks. CS: GO is hotly contested, and top bookmakers strive to run diverse markets for CS: GO tournaments such as the Eleague finals, all majors, and ESL Pro League.
Norway is home to professional eSports players such as Runibo, the retired CS: GO player, and Snute, the Zerg pro. Other popular eSports for competitive play and internet betting in Norway include:
There are lots of payment methods for funding online eSports betting accounts in Norway. The most suitable options are also perfect for other Nordic punters. The Norwegian government ordered banking institutions to block all online gambling transactions, especially direct bank and card transfers. However, a significant population of Norwegians still use their Visa and MasterCards, through VPNs.
E-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and EcoPayz are the most widely used methods for depositing and withdrawing winnings. Other common alternatives are Entropay and the prepaid card solution, Paysafecard. Players can pay through these alternatives in NOK at recommended sites on this website. Trustly, which is a bank debit gateway, may also be accepted.
As cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin continue to grow, many eSports betting sites in Norway have opened doors to them. Not all sites accept digital coins, but they are worth considering, given their quick transaction timeframes and high-level security.
Betting has constantly been closely monitored by the Norwegian authorities. Gambling legislation was first enacted in 1902 when the government created the Penal Code, ruling that only licensed operators could offer gambling services. License acquisition was not easy those days.
Consequently, there was a rise of a state-monopoly that dominated the industry. In 1927, Norway introduced the Totalisator Act that authorized the Norsk Rikstoto monopoly to conduct horse race betting. Later, the Gaming Act was passed, leading to a few changes in the way sports betting was carried out.
Norsk Tipping was granted a monopoly to offer lottery and football betting. In 1995, more exhaustive legislation, the Lottery Act, came into effect. The act regulated sports betting, lotto games, and other forms of gambling. In the mid-21st century, computer technology had taken over, and some betting rules became obsolete.
Norway outlawed slot machines and replaced them with video terminals from Norsk Tipping. Gamblers could only play video slots with special cards that had daily spending limits. Unfortunately, the government made online gambling illegal in 2008 so that Norwegians could not bet at overseas bookmakers. Despite this, citizens continued to place sports wagers at international bookies.
Norwegians continued with sports betting until 2010, when legislators came up with a law that inhibited financial transactions between citizens and foreign sportsbooks. The aim was to stop all gambling payments via credit and debit cards on various sites.
At this time, online eSports betting was already a big trend. Avid eSports bettors from Norway did everything they could to continue with the hobby. Instead of using bank cards, they switched to semi-anonymous e-wallets, which could not be traced by state authorities. That is why e-wallets are the most popular payment option at the best eSports betting sites in Norway.
Norwegian banks have not been very keen on blocking online eSports betting transactions, and several institutions allow payments at bookmakers. Norwegians love video game betting, and enthusiastic players know where to enjoy the games.
The best eSports betting sites in Norway are licensed in other countries such as the UK, Malta, and Gibraltar. Betting companies accepting Norwegians provide a broad spectrum of eSports markets throughout the week. Some are so friendly that they accept the Norwegian krone (NOK).
Norway has always sought to limit how much gambling the citizens engage in. Even though new laws and regulations were passed recently, they seem to be on the losing end of the battle. Despite efforts to ban IP addresses, the proliferation of online bookmakers makes it difficult for authorities to keep up. For now and in the future, Norwegians will be able to use whichever bookie they like.
There’s a lot Norway can learn from the international eSports scene. With global eSports growing exponentially without formal umbrella organizations, it means the industry already knows what to achieve and in which order. Countries with the most favorable gambling laws have specific entities governing eSports, but it is not yet known how effective these bodies are.
Recently, the Norwegian eSport Federation (NEF) has announced the dissolution of most of the staff. It is hard to foretell the future of this organization. Notwithstanding, Norwegian eSports will keep on making significant strides, with or without the NEF influence.
Online and land-based casinos are not allowed in Norway without a license. It is an offense to provide, market, or distribute casino games without proper licensing from a Gaming Authority. So far, no land-based casino has been approved. Interactive game content for online casinos is exclusively provided by Norsk Tipping. As far as poker is concerned, commercial tournaments can only be hosted with a permit from the Gaming Authority.
Norsk Tipping is also the exclusive provider of slot machines and other gaming equipment. No other company can distribute slots and cannot be granted a license as per section 9 of the Lottery Act. The same rules apply to bingo. It is illegal for Norwegians to gamble with other betting operators apart from Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto. Casino gambling at foreign sites is also prohibited.
It is a crime to transact at such websites for the purposes of gambling. Legislation against online casinos has been hard to enforce. Yet, casino gaming is a popular pastime activity in Norway. Most punters access casino games through virtual private networks. That way, they can visit any international casino site and make payments with payment methods such as e-wallets and cryptocurrencies that guarantee privacy.
The Norwegian legislation on eSports betting takes a liberal approach like that of many Nordic countries. The laws surround local betting companies and foreign sportsbooks and how they should promote their services to Norwegians. Local punters must register with a licensed sportsbook for safety reasons.
The licensing system for eSports betting in Norway may be strict, but the government is lenient on bettors. In short, Norwegians can place eSports bets as long as the site they have chosen is regulated by a recognized agency.
The government imposes restrictions to prevent social issues that may arise from excess betting and to protect the state-operated betting providers. At the moment, there are only two bookmakers licensed in Norway. However, their services cannot match those offered by offshore bookies.
Foreign sites have diverse eSports markets, better odds, gaming tech, bonuses, and promotions. Those who want to be on the safe side and bet at domestic bookmakers can sign up with Norsk Tipping or Norsk Rikstoto (for horse race betting).
Betting is regulated by three decrees, namely the 1995 Lottery Act, 1927 Totalisator Act, and 1992 Gaming Scheme Act. The three laws work in tandem to control all types of gambling in Norway. Violation of the acts is considered a criminal offense, punishable with imprisonment and/or monetary fines.
The Gaming Authority possesses the administrative power to impose coercive penalties or sanction non-compliant betting companies. It should be noted that the three laws do not ban betting on unlicensed platforms. Thus, no one can be apprehended for gambling in unregulated betting sites.
Gambling is legally defined in the Lottery Act, Section 1(a). It is any activity where participants bet hoping to win a prize after random results have been drawn, guessed, or analyzed in any other procedure. These activities include sports betting, casino gaming, traditional lotteries, slot machines, and bingo. Private or non-profit poker operators may arrange competitions but do not need a permit as long as they comply with section 5 of the Lottery Act.
Private operators have a limited right to apply for gambling licenses. But commercial operators do not qualify for complete licensing. The Lottery Act also pertains to private betting companies that offer marketing and distribution of lotteries. Unlicensed lotteries are illegal, according to section 6 of the same act. Only socially beneficial and humanitarian organizations are eligible for licensing. Plus, the profits from lotteries must be used for a good cause.
The two legislations grant Norsk Tipping AS and Foundation Norsk Rikstoto exclusive rights to provide most of the gambling services in the country, land-based and online. Marketing and distribution of unlicensed betting products and services are prohibited in section 1(3) of the Totalisator Act.
Top esportsbooks usually give better odds, more comprehensive coverage on eSports, and superior betting platforms. On the other hand, eSports-only websites are relatively scarce and small. To find a stable betting company designed exclusively for eSports is not easy.
Oftentimes, such websites are susceptible to online scams and do not guarantee the safety of a bettor’s money. So, it’s better to stick to traditional sportsbooks offering a wide range of sports and eSports.
Yes. It is possible to find free eSports bets. But the offer is mostly aimed at new customers. A free bet allows a player to bet, even before they fund their account.
Anyone who wants to gamble for real money should be at least 18 years or older.
The most popular type is the match-winner bet. It involves predicting the winner of certain eSports matches.
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