Lottery tickets are legal in Norway under an exclusive state monopoly system where the Ministry of Culture and Equality holds overarching responsibility for the administration of gaming and lotteries. Norsk Tipping has the exclusive right to offer the largest forms of gaming and Norsk Rikstoto has the exclusive right to offer gaming within horse racing and horse trotting (1). The Ministry of Culture and Equality is responsible for the governance of Norsk Tipping AS, ensuring that gambling activities operate under strict government control.
The Norwegian Gambling and Foundation Authority serves as the specialist administrative and supervisory body that supervises and controls all private and state-operated lotteries in Norway (2). Private organizations may apply for authorization to provide private lotteries, bingo and poker games under certain conditions, with lottery and bingo licenses valid for one year. The Authority also supervises gambling and horse racing organized through the monopoly companies Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, which hold national monopolies on gambling and horse racing respectively.
"The Norwegian Gambling Authority is a public authority that supervises and controls all private and state-operated lotteries in Norway. It also supervises and controls gambling and horse racing, which are organized through the companies Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto."
The Authority aims to ensure that gaming activities are arranged in a satisfactory manner under public control, prevent negative consequences of gaming, and ensure that profit from games can be allocated to approved good causes (2). Large gambling scheme lotteries with yearly turnover from 200,000 kroner to 100 million kroner require a license from the Norwegian Lottery and Foundation Authority, while small gambling scheme lotteries with yearly turnover below 200,000 kroner are exempt from licensing requirements. All net profits from Norsk Tipping are transferred to approved social causes including sports and cultural programs throughout Norway.
Source:
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/culture-sports-and-non-profit-work/lotteries-and-gaming/id1216/
https://lottstift.no/en/about-the-norwegian-gambling-and-foundation-authority/
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
