Norway plans U.S. style online gambling ban

[skinski]

Norway plans U.S. style online gambling ban
Fri Oct 5, 2025 4:40pm BST


By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Norway is planning a U.S.-style effective ban on Internet gambling, the country's top legal advisers said.

Rolf Sims, legal adviser to Norway's Ministry of Culture, told an Internet gambling conference in Barcelona this week that the country was drafting laws that mirror the U.S. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA), which effectively outlawed online gambling by making processing of bet payments illegal.

"It's on the drawing board," Sims said.

"It is like the U.S. model banning transactions but we haven't seen the final rules," Norwegian Gaming Board legal adviser Thomas Helgesen told Reuters.

The Norwegian government is responding to the growing public backlash against gambling.

Gambling addiction in the Scandinavian country spiralled after slot machines were introduced and although the government has since banned certain types of machines, the problem persists, and an iron-fist approach is seen as a vote winner for politicians.

"The anti gambling lobby has got the wind in its sails," Sims said.

"The is mass opposition ... It would be political suicide for any government minister to suggest legalizing gambling."

For the rest of the story > http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_SMA...61713320071005

[bartongrl1]

I would think that they would wait to see if this works in the US. Otherwise they would be missing out on a market that could bring in good revenue.

[beangel40]

I wonder just how many countrys will try to follow in this plan of action and then if the US turns around and dose away with the ban will they other countrys try to undo what they did in the first place

[skinski]

My thoughts exactly beangel . I've been talking with a Norway friend and they say it'll never happen....all I could do was remind him that most folk said the same thing here....

[bartongrl1]

Skinski, you are so right about that.