Norsk Tipping has called for an increased focus on support for young people as part of its feedback on Norway’s Action Plan against Problem Gambling 2026-2028.
The operator has underpinned the importance of campaigns and services to raise awareness amongst young people, to make them aware of the risks of gambling and help them identify illegal gambling offers.
Meanwhile, Gambling Addiction Norway (Spillavhengighet Norge) has put forward several proposals, including improving funding for support services and providing additional support to relatives.
The Norwegian Lottery Authority, the Norwegian Media Authority and the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Lotteritilsynet, Medietilsynet and Helsedirektoratet) are working together to prepare a new action plan against problem gambling for the period of 2026 to 2028.
As such, the three groups have asked for feedback from stakeholders in the Norwegian gambling market on what needs to be covered within the new action plan to help improve gambling harm prevention, treatment and research.
Lotteritilsynet stated that the action plan will still feature the same three goals as the current plan: as few people as possible suffering from gambling harm, improving knowledge and sharing knowledge, and low-threshold services and treatment.
The stakeholders were asked to provide opinions on: which target groups should be prioritised, suggestions for specific prevention measures, where research and knowledge on gambling behaviour and gambling problems need to be expanded, and specific issues or measures related to low-threshold services and treatment.
Lotteritilsynet added that it is a guideline that the draft new plan should not feature any regulatory measures.
All three parties working on the action plan received feedback from stakeholders. Lotteritilsynet received responses from Actis, Akan, Blå Kors, Bredde E-sport Alliansen, Foreningen for samfunnsnyttige pengespill, Helse Stavanger, Klein-group, NFSP, Norges Parkinsonforbund, Norsk Rikstoto, Norsk Tipping, NTNU, Spillavhengighet Norge, Spillforsk, Stiftelsen Barnevakten and ROPFORSK/Korus Øst.
Medietilsynet received responses from Aktive Gamere, Bygdel Vestre Aker, Gamingkontakten, JUNG, Likestillingssenteret, Spillkultur and Stikkontakten. Meanwhile, Helsedirektoratet received feedback from ADHD Norge, Blå Kors, Helse Bergen, Helse Midt Norge, Korus Øst, OUS, Spillavhengighet Norge and Stiftelsen Dam.
Additional support for young people
Within its response, Norsk Tipping has stated that while the target group in the current action plan is reasonable and should be continued, it noted that there should be an increased focus on young people due to an increasing proportion of young men (18 to 25 years old) playing casino games.
The operator also called for surveys into the languages most used by players to adapt menus, accountability tools and messages to support players at an earlier stage.
Norsk Tipping is proposing raising awareness in schools to make people aware of the risks of gambling, especially casino gambling, to help younger people decide if they want to gamble once they turn 18 and ensure fewer people play casino games.
Special campaigns aimed at young people (16 to 20 years old) are also being proposed to help them become aware of the risks of gambling and which offers are legal.
Norsk Tipping also calls for research into the effect of DNS blocking and other government measures, the importance of playing games in a social setting for young people, and how young people’s gambling habits could be influenced by previous experiences, such as loot boxes and skin betting in computer games.
Regarding low-threshold services and treatment, the operator has asked for good and predictable support schemes for voluntary organisations and self-help groups, referencing Gambling Addiction Norway (Spillavhengighet Norge) as an important service.
Norsk Tipping has requested that the action plan examine how the allocation of operating funds to voluntary organisations and self-help groups can be increased to improve the predictability of funds.
Current funding insufficient
Spillavhengighet Norge has called for stronger support for the services it provides through the action plan, noting that current funding of 0.5% of Norsk Tipping’s profits is not sufficient and that there aren’t enough services in rural areas of the country.
The gambling support organisation has also asked for greater transparency of the action plan during its development, as well as expanding the consultation process to increase knowledge and commitment, in addition to a website to provide status updates on the action plan’s progress and what has been achieved once it is implemented.
Additional action on payment service bans has been requested to help make it more effective, cooperation with banks and financial firms regarding debt, as well as research into cryptocurrency and other alternative payments being used.
Similar to Norsk Tipping, Spillavhengighet Norge has asked for the connection between video games and young people’s gambling to be analysed and additional backing for its gambling support services, but they have also asked for assistance and prevention to be prioritised over research and for research results to be put into practice.
The organisation added that more clarification is needed on the differences between treatment and self-help as the two are often mixed up, as well as to strengthen the assistance for relatives of those who suffer from gambling harm to make support more available and increase their knowledge and awareness.
