Norway’s Ministry of Culture and Equality (Kultur- og likestillingsdepartementet) has proposed granting state-owned Norsk Tipping the right to offer online poker. The initiative was presented as part of a consultation on amendments to the Gambling Regulations (pengespillforskriften), published on 29 September 2026.
The ministry expects Norsk Tipping to begin developing its own online poker product as soon as possible. According to the ministry, it could provide a safer alternative to playing on platforms operated by unlicensed operators.
Three Areas of Change
Alongside the legalization of online poker, the ministry proposes requiring the largest operators in Norway’s gambling market to report identified deviations. It also plans to make adjustments to the rules governing the payout of Belago funds related to bingo.
The accompanying document proposes amendments to the regulations of 17 November 2022, as well as to the Gambling Act (pengespilloven) of 18 March 2022.
Consultation Deadline Shortened
Comments and submissions will be accepted until 29 November 2026. The ministry has decided to shorten the standard consultation period so that the new rules can enter into force immediately after the process is completed.
Consultation participants can submit their comments through an electronic form on regjeringen.no. All submissions are publicly available under Norway’s Freedom of Information Act (offentlighetsloven) and will be published on the ministry’s website.
The document was signed by Department Director Øyvind Christensen and Senior Adviser Tony André Malmedal.
Recipients include Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian Poker Association (Norsk Pokerforbund), Spillavhengighet Norge, which focuses on gambling addiction, and the national helpline for people with gambling problems (Hjelpelinjen for spilleavhengige).
Norsk Tipping and EveryMatrix
Norsk Tipping was founded in 1948 and is based in Hamar. According to EveryMatrix, in January 2025, the operator generated approximately NOK 9.27 billion ($963 million) in net gaming revenue in 2023, while its annual player base reached around 2 million.
This spring, Norsk Tipping reported annual profits close to a record level. In March, the company’s online casino KongKasino received a warning over failures to comply with mandatory player break requirements.
EveryMatrix has worked with Norsk Tipping since 2016. That year, its CasinoEngine platform began powering the operator’s online casino. In January 2025, EveryMatrix also won a public procurement contract to supply casino content through its SlotMatrix aggregator. The agreement includes games from EveryMatrix Games, Fantasma Games and Armadillo Studios, as well as casual games through the Yezz platform. EveryMatrix described the contract as the largest SlotMatrix agreement.
However, the consultation documents do not specify which technology provider may be involved in developing the poker product.
Next Steps
If the ministry follows its proposed timetable, the new rules could enter into force shortly after the consultation closes on 29 November. Norsk Tipping would then be able to begin work on launching online poker.
Comments from consultation participants, including Norsk Pokerforbund and Spillavhengighet Norge, will be published on regjeringen.no as they are submitted.
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