Norway’s Ministry of Culture and Equality (Kultur- og likestillingsdepartementet) has proposed letting state-owned Norsk Tipping offer online poker. The plan is part of a consultation on amendments to the Gambling Regulations (pengespillforskriften), published on 29 September 2026.
The ministry wants Norsk Tipping to start building an online poker product quickly, and describes it as a responsible alternative to play with unregulated operators.
Three proposed changes
Alongside poker, the ministry proposes deviation reporting requirements for the largest operators in the Norwegian gambling market, plus minor changes to the rules on paying out Belago funds from bingo.
The accompanying consultation memo covers amendments to both the regulation of 17 November 2022 and the Gambling Act (pengespilloven) of 18 March 2022.
Shortened deadline
Responses are due by 29 November 2026. The ministry has shortened the consultation period somewhat so the amended regulation can enter into force straight away.
Submissions go through the digital form on regjeringen.no. They are public under Norway’s Freedom of Information Act (offentlighetsloven) and will be published on the ministry’s website. The letter is signed by Department Director Øyvind Christensen and Senior Adviser Tony André Malmedal.
Recipients include Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian Poker Association (Norsk Pokerforbund), Spillavhengighet Norge and the national helpline for problem gamblers (Hjelpelinjen for spilleavhengige).
Norsk Tipping and EveryMatrix
Norsk Tipping was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Hamar. It reported net gaming revenue of about NOK 9.27 billion for 2023 and reaches around 2 million players a year, according to a January 2025 EveryMatrix announcement.
The operator reported a near-record annual profit this spring, while its online casino, KongKasino, was warned over mandatory break failures in March.
EveryMatrix has worked with Norsk Tipping since 2016, when its CasinoEngine platform began powering the operator’s online casino. In January 2025, it won a public procurement to supply casino content through its SlotMatrix aggregation platform, including in-house titles from EveryMatrix Games, Fantasma Games and Armadillo Studios, along with casual games through its Yezz platform. EveryMatrix called it its largest SlotMatrix agreement.
The consultation letter does not name a technology supplier for the poker product.
What happens next
If the ministry keeps to its timetable, the amended regulation could take effect shortly after the 29 November deadline, allowing Norsk Tipping to begin work on online poker. Responses from stakeholders including Norsk Pokerforbund and Spillavhengighet Norge will be published on regjeringen.no once submitted.
Source: Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality
