Norway’s Lotteritilsynet Eases Online Bingo Revenue Rules

Norway’s gambling regulator Lotteri-og stiftelsestilsynet (Lotteritilsynet) has eased the requirements for operators looking to offer online bingo by extending the period to meet minimum revenue requirements.

Bingo operators in Norway can normally only offer bingo online if they have generated revenue above NOK2m (€186,000) over the previous 12 months. Because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on revenue, the regulator has temporarily extended the period to 15 months if operators request the extension.

New bingo halls, which may offer online bingo for a trial period in their first year, have also had their trial periods extended by three months.

“The opportunity to apply for an extension of the period [has been introduced] as a result of the outbreak of the pandemic, which led to several bingo halls being forced to close, and thus lose revenue, for around two months,” Lotteritilsynet said.

The regulator noted that in the country’s bingo regulations, it was granted the authority to “dispense with the provisions of these regulations.”

When Covid-19 measures were introduced in March, Lotteritilsynet allowed bingo halls to operate online-only and suspended regulations that require a physical draw to take place alongside the online component.