Nordic Affiliates Joins Norwegian Trade Organisation as First Affiliate Member

Nordic Affiliates has officially joined the Norwegian Trade Organisation (NBO) as its first affiliate member at the sponsor level. This company operates Norskeautomater.com, targeting the Norwegian market. Founded in 2019 by Betsson, Comeon Group, Kindred, and Gaming Innovation Group, the NBO advocates for an end to Norway's gambling monopoly in favor of a regulatory framework that aligns more closely with international standards. The organization also seeks to enhance understanding of the unregulated online gambling market within Norway, which is currently dominated by a state monopoly. Norsk Tipping is designated for online casino operations while Norsk Rikstoto manages horse racing bets. "As a Norwegian with over a decade of experience in the industry, I firmly believe that Norway needs to regulate its internal gambling markets," stated Havard Lehn, co-founder of Nordic Affiliates. He emphasized the stagnation on gambling issues, noting, "Politicians talk a lot, but there is no real change for people struggling with gambling problems. We must unite behind NBO for the benefit of both Norwegian society and the industry." Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, secretary-general of the NBO, expressed optimism about a shift toward a regulated market allowing private operators, declaring, "It's not a matter of if the Norwegian gambling market will be de-monopolised, but when." He acknowledged the slow pace of change and the necessity of ongoing public affairs efforts, stating, "The more power we can assemble behind this task, the faster we will reach our goals. We have made more progress in the last three years than in the previous 20. That reflects the determination of the industry, but we seek further engagement from more companies." Currently, Norway’s gambling operations are monopolized by Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, the former exclusively offering online casino games and the latter holding betting rights for horse racing. Recently, Norsk Rikstoto had its exclusive license extended until at least 2032. Meanwhile, the Norwegian regulator Lotteritilsynet has paused daily fines imposed on Unibet operator Kindred, which has been involved in a long-standing dispute with the regulator regarding its targeting of Norwegian players.