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Norwegian players miss out on even more casino payment methods after December

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December brings even fewer payment options for Norwegian gamblers as the government focuses on the gaming monopoly.


The Norwegian government is one of the few regions that continue to hold the monopoly on the gambling industry.

In the last two years, there have been several changes in the industry which includes a range of restrictions.

Instead of opening the market or completely banning gambling, Norway continues to work under the blanket ban.

With the current move being to remove the majority of online payment methods, making it nearly impossible for players to take part in online gambling activities.

No festive cheer for Norwegian gamblers

It's no secret that Norway is trying to cut the cash flow securing the gambling monopoly in the region. This is a continuous focus for Norwegian authorities since 2010 to ensure Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto gets the attention from those interested in gambling.

Payment methods have been falling away one by one since 2019. Despite futile attempts at protesting the monopoly and the blocking of payments, the government continues full steam ahead.

For December, operators in the Norwegian Market will remove even more payment options from their lists. Unfortunately, players within Norway will find very limited options to choose from going forward.

One of the top online casinos in the region, LeoVegas, has announced that they will be removing Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, and Skrill Rapid Transfer.

These payment methods will be removed gradually over the course of the month. Deposits via Skrill, Neteller, Rapid Transfer and Paysafecard has already been disabled.

Withdrawals via Rapid Transfer will be disabled on the 17th of December and Skrill and Neteller withdrawals on the 21st of December 2020.

One of the alternatives currently recommended by LeoVegas is EcoPayz. This payment option will ensure swift payments to and from your LeoVegas Casino account.

The majority of top online casinos catering to Norwegian players will have this alternative payment method or others available.

Financial restrictions in Norway

Norway's regulatory body, Lotteri-og stiftelsestilsynet, made it clear in 2019 that there would be new restrictions on local financial institutions processing payments to and from internationally licensed online gambling operators.

This battle has been a continuous one since 2010 which even court cases can't stop. Banks have not been able to process payments for online gambling since the 24th of April 2020.

Of course, there is the option of Bitcoin casinos, which the government can't easily monitor or control. For Norwegian players, crypto casinos are currently one of the safest and best options to play at online casinos that are not subject to pressure from the Norwegian monopoly.

This would mean players need to learn the workings of cryptocurrency and casino formats. It's not difficult but the majority are not open to the foreign currency option.

While the financial restrictions and betting limits have been a sore spot for many, the government believes it has been beneficial throughout the pandemic. Where various regions have shown rising numbers in problem gamblers, the Norwegian stats have shown a steady rate in online casino growth with no massive risk indicators.

The not-so-subtle blanket ban

The Norwegian blanket ban on online gambling is nothing new and a subtle way of the government to lay down the law without actually spelling it out.

In recent years, the larger online casinos have started stepping out of the shadows and taking on the Norwegian government. There has been a number of court battles and still, the fight continues as these industry giants attempt to enter the Norwegian gambling market.

The fact is that the Norwegian gambling industry will continue to be a closed-off market until local politicians and residents side with foreign operators, asking for more gambling options.

Published: December 14, 2020

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Article by Stelly

CasinoWow Contributor

Hey there! I am Stelly, and happily, I'm part of CasinoWow's content team. It excites me to be able to write and share with all gambling enthusiasts unbiased reviews and news that contribute to the gambling community and industry. Thankfully, I also have the chance to help you make an informed choice for casino brands and games, as well as provide interesting guides and news.

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