Progress Party Advocates for End of Gambling Monopoly in Norway

Himanshu Gulati, a prominent figure in Norway’s Progress Party, has indicated a significant shift in the country’s gambling policy. Speaking at the Spillkonferansen gambling conference this week, he suggested that Norway’s long-standing gambling monopoly is likely to be dismantled with a change in government. Gulati, who regularly attends the conference, emphasized that adopting a licensing model will be the top priority for the Progress Party’s cultural policies upon reclaiming power. He stated, "I have for many years said internally in my party that when there is a change of government, the licence model in the gambling field must be the most important cultural political issue for the Progress Party." Gulati underscored the necessity of reforming Norway’s tightly regulated gambling landscape as a pragmatic approach aligned with the party's broader agenda. The Progress Party has supported a reformed licensing system instead of the current monopoly, first advocating for the end of this model in 2021. MP Silje Hjemdal highlighted the issue last year, saying, "We must regulate better, and the way the model is today, there are actually very large sums of money that are sent out of the country every year, without going back to Norwegian sports or culture." Currently, the Progress Party holds the second-largest number of seats in parliament, trailing only the Labour Party, which won 28.2% of the vote and secured 53 seats in the September 2025 general election. The Progress Party gained ground with 48 seats, representing 24% of the vote. Drawing on his political background, Gulati mentioned past deregulation efforts by the Progress Party, including the legalization of cash poker about a decade ago and the removal of restrictions on professional athletes like boxer Cecilia Brækhus. He also pointed out the repeal of Norway’s outdated Segway ban as evidence of the need to modernize gambling legislation. "Some of the current rules and restrictions are, in my opinion, contrary to all common sense," he stated. Gulati called for fact-based discussions on gambling policy, criticizing the prevailing assumptions about gambling’s social consequences and the distribution of its revenue. He noted that Norway's monopoly is unique in Europe, as other markets, such as Finland and Albania, have moved to different models. Finland is set to open its liberalized iGaming market in 2027, with 50 operators already applying for licenses under the new framework. Gulati also questioned the effectiveness of the monopoly, particularly given the rise of offshore gambling operators and low channelization rates. "The question is whether the model we have had for all these years still generates the most money for the purpose," he remarked, referencing the traditional justification that monopoly revenues support sports and voluntary organizations. Recent issues have also raised doubts about Norsk Tipping’s player protection measures, including a technical error resulting in incorrect lottery payouts and limitations exposed during a Eurojackpot-related incident that drew regulatory scrutiny and financial penalties. Reports have also indicated concerns over development and operational quality with Norsk Tipping’s platform performance and user experience. Regarding problem gambling, Gulati highlighted a lack of coordinated efforts to address the issue. He contended that consistent and collaborative action is vital for combatting gambling-related harm, regardless of differing political views. "Regardless of where one stands politically on gambling policy, even if one wants total prohibition, we must agree that the work to combat problematic gambling behaviour must be coordinated and consistent." Recently, Norway introduced a four-year action plan aimed at preventing and treating problem gambling. The conference agenda also addressed match-fixing, with Gulati stressing the importance of universal opposition to such corruption and advocating for policy reforms to improve detection and deterrence.