Problem gambling in Norway halves, says university research

“The decline is so great that there is no doubt that the work to stop illegal gambling companies has an effect.”

According to a recent study conducted by the University of Bergen, the number of problem gamblers in Norway has been cut in half since the last survey conducted in 2019. The study also found that fewer players are engaging in offshore gambling activities on unlicensed sites.

The research indicates that approximately 23,000 Norwegians currently have problem gambling habits, while an additional 93,000 individuals are considered at risk. This is a substantial improvement compared to the figures from 2019, which reported approximately 55,000 problem gamblers and 122,000 individuals at risk.

Henrik Nordal, the department director at the Norwegian Gambling Authority, expressed confidence in the effectiveness of efforts to combat illegal gambling companies, stating, “The decline is so great that there is no doubt that the work to stop illegal gambling companies has an effect.”

Nordal attributed the decrease in problem gambling to government initiatives aimed at restricting payment processing and advertising for offshore, unlicensed gambling companies. Additionally, the Norwegian gambling monopoly, Norsk Tipping, has implemented lower loss limits since the 2019 survey.

The study revealed that around 2.1 percent of players were identified as displaying problematic behavior. The University of Bergen conducted the survey in Autumn 2022, surveying 30,000 residents. Out of the total, approximately 7,400 individuals responded. This marks the fourth survey of its kind conducted over the past decade.

The findings also highlighted that the risk of being a problem or moderate-risk gambler was more prevalent among men, individuals with lower education and income levels, and those born outside of Norway.

According to a new report, the most common reasons cited for gambling are “for fun” and “to win.” The study sheds light on the motivations that drive individuals to engage in gambling activities.

Furthermore, the report highlights that only a small fraction, about 0.4 percent, of respondents utilised cryptocurrency for gambling purposes. In contrast, approximately 7 percent of participants had purchased cryptocurrency for any reason, indicating a broader interest in digital currencies among the surveyed population.

In a separate development, Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian gambling monopoly, has taken steps to enhance player protection. Effective from June 1, the company has reduced the maximum monthly spending limit for players under the age of 20 to 2,000 Norwegian krone (€168). This decision was prompted by research indicating that younger players are more susceptible to harm from excessive gambling.

Norsk Tipping already imposes a maximum monthly loss limit of NOK 20,000 on all its customers. However, the company has now decided to implement stricter limits specifically for 18- to 20-year-olds due to their heightened vulnerability. Notably, Norsk Tipping has approximately 30,000 players within this age group, with around 2,000 of them exceeding the NOK 2,000 loss limit at least once in the past year.

The report also underscores that casino games, which are considered higher-risk activities, have lower loss limits in place to mitigate potential harm.

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