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Best Poker Sites in Norway 2025
With an estimated population of around 5.5 million (as of 2025), the Kingdom of Norway is a typical example of a Scandinavian country, renowned for its exceptional quality of life and robust social security. According to the World Happiness Report, Norway consistently secures a place among the world’s most content and prosperous countries. Online poker continues to be a favored leisure activity for Norwegians; however, the nation’s gambling regulations are quite challenging. Explore our comprehensive review to gain deeper insight into the market structure and the best poker sites accessible to players in Norway.
Best online poker sites for Norway players
Norway's gambling regulation is almost identical to those in other Scandinavian countries - online gambling is legal but controlled by the state. The government takes measures to restrict the use of offshore websites, in particular by restricting payments via credit/debit cards to unregistered online casinos. However, there are several major poker sites that work in Norway, accept its citizens, and even sometimes have a Norwegian localization.
| Rank | Poker Site | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Best Norway online poker site | CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 |
| ✅ US amateurs | BetOnline | 100% up to $1,000 |
| ✅ Biggest tournaments | ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 |
| ✅ Most reputable | Redstar | 150% up to $2,000 |
| ✅ Casual friendly | Stake Poker | $100,000 Daily Races |
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Coinpoker
CoinPoker is the largest online poker sites using cryptocurrency. The site doesn't require verification, making it open to players from a wide range of countries, including Norway.
CoinPoker is regarded as one of the most trustworthy platforms: its blockchain-based RNG ensures fairness, and a reserve fund is in place to fully compensate players’ balances in the event of force majeure. Naturally, it has a solid reputation among the players worldwide.
Regarding the games, CoinPoker provides cash games exclusively in Hold'em and Omaha, with stakes up to $200/$400. Regular tournaments feature prize pools guaranteed up to $100,000.
A 150% first deposit bonus up to $2,000 provides generous 50% rakeback. Once the wagering requirements are met, players receive a consistent weekly 33% rakeback. Extra earnings can also be gained by taking part in rake races.
ACR Poker
ACR Poker is the flagship poker room of the Winning Poker Network. Norwegian players can compete against US residents and poker enthusiasts from across the globe. The platform holds a Curacao license and has built an outstanding reputation over more than two decades of online poker operations. The poker room's team includes Chris Moneymaker and dozens of other professional players.
In addition to classic 6-max Hold'em and Omaha tables with stakes up to $200/$400, ACR Poker offers less conventional cash game formats: 9-max, AoF, 7-Card Stud, and 7-Day No Rathole.
The poker room offers a huge selection of tournaments with buy-ins up to $10,030. Flagship events:
- The OSS Series with a $50M guarantee
- The Venom tournament with a guarantee of up to $8M
New players are offered a welcome bonus of up to $2,000. They can select a loyalty program featuring a fixed 27% rakeback or a progressive one of up to 65%.
How to choose the best online poker site in Norway?
Facing an unrestricted selection of options, online poker players can find themselves lost. It is especially true for the amateurs that do not have a clear understanding of features to consider before joining any available platform. Let us outline them:
- Safety of the operator. Check if the platform holds a valid license from an official authority. Does it provide advanced SSL encryption of sensitive data? Make sure the site has a decent level of security overall.
- Availability of regular events and MTTs with decent GTD rates.
- Selection games. You want to be able to play different types of online poker, including 7 Cards Stud, Omaha (PLO4, PLO5), Hold’em, Texas, even by switching platforms.
- Convenience and performance of the website. Stick with rooms that provide mobile optimization and feature user-friendly UI, etc.
- Suitable banking system. Check if the poker site offers an array of payment methods that meets your needs. Low commissions and fast transactions are also crucial aspects here.
Online poker in Norway
Norway’s online poker sector has stayed vibrant in recent years, maintaining the growth that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The development of internet gambling in the country is logical, as there are no land-based gambling venues since 2007, except for interactive video terminals in some places. However, after diving into the governmental regulations imposed on this sector of the entertainment industry in the country, one may assume that the situation is much worse than it really is.
Why is that so?
The Kingdom of Norway has one of the strictest approaches to the regulation of gambling activities, compared to other European countries. As it is not a member of the European Union, there are no restrictions on imposing the full state monopoly on the gambling market. Norsk Riskoto and Norsk Tipping are the only two legal websites, which are owned by the state. The first one offers horserace-betting service while the second is focused on lotteries, poker, sports betting, and keno.
However, the reality is that Norwegians still use offshore online poker rooms even though it is technically illegal. According to statistics, over 10% of the population gambles on unlicensed platforms. Since 2014, the Norwegian Poker Championship has taken place in Oslo yearly. People also tend to play small stakes poker rounds at home (it is legal since 2014 if there are no more than 10 people of 18+ years old and the stakes are not higher than 1,000 NOK per game). Considering how popular online poker and gambling, in general, are in the country, many people currently favor this path.
Norway's legal poker background
The Gaming Scheme Act made gambling legal in Norway back in 1902. However, the legislation has gone through multiple changes since then. The Gaming Act of 1992 has given the right of providing online gambling services to Norsk Tipping AS and Norsk Rikstoto, which are the only sites that can legally do so.
Norse cannot legally use foreign gambling platforms since 2008. Moreover, the Payment Act of 2010 forbids Norwegian banks to allow their clients to use credit/debit cards in offshore casinos. However, it is essential to note that even though it is illegal to use poker services of unlicensed casinos, nobody is prosecuted for doing so.
Moreover, since 2021, Norway has stopped blocking sites with foreign licenses.
In recent years, as regulations have become increasingly stringent, numerous international poker rooms, such as GGPoker, PokerStars and 888, have already left the Norwegian market, while others are slowly scaling back their operations. Experts emphasize that as long as Norsk Tipping retains its monopoly, private operators will be deprived of any legal means to conduct business within the country.
Available deposit and withdrawal methods
While banks usually block money transactions to foreign online poker rooms, Norwegian players then use other payment methods. Most popular are the following:
- E-wallets. Skrill, ecoPayz, and Neteller are the most common options.
- Cryptocurrency. The alternative to e-wallets that steadily grows in popularity due to convenience and fast transactions.
Recall that most likely you’ll need to process transactions in USD or EUR, not in Norwegian krone (NOK).
Taxes
According to Norway's Taxation Act (Sections 5 to 50(1)), gambling winnings from domestic operators such as Norsk Tipping are exempt from taxation. However, earnings from international online poker sites are classified as regular income and taxed at the standard rate of 22%. One-time winnings up to 10,000 NOK (roughly €850–900) are not taxable, while any amount exceeding this limit must be declared and is subject to taxation.
Best Norway poker players
TOP-5 Norway All Time Money List:
- Espen Uhlen Jørstad — $19,3М+
- Kayhan Mokri Roshanfekr — $13М+
- Felix Vincent Stephensen — $5,9М+
- Tom-Aksel Bedell — $5,01М+
- Morten Klein — $ 4,М+
Espen Uhlen Jørstad was an avid World of Warcraft fan in his younger years, that’s when he first encountered poker. He even temporarily dropped out of school because of the game. However, poker wasn't profitable for a long time, so Espen took up a position as a technologist at a brewery.
In February 2017, Jørstad relocated to Malta. There, not only he begin playing poker professionally but also started streaming on Twitch in partnership with Unibet. He admits that streaming helped him stay disciplined and rapidly advance to high-stakes games.
In 2021, the Norwegian player reached the final table of the WSOP Online Main Event on GGPoker, securing sixth place, earning $603,058. Only a year later, Espen claimed the title of WSOP Main Event champion in Las Vegas, winning $10 million. Later, he gained more than $2 million twice in Triton Poker events.
Besides Jørstad, there are two other iconic figures in the history of Norwegian poker:
- Thor Hansen is an iconic poker figure, famously known as the "Godfather of Norwegian Poker." He captured two WSOP bracelets (in 1998 and 2002) and played at the Hustler Casino by invitation from owner Larry Flynt. Thor also became a mentor to many aspiring players.
- Annette Obrestad started playing online at 15 and became the youngest WSOP champion at 18. In 2007, she won the WSOPE Main Event with the prize of €1 million.
Responsible Gambling
It is crucial to treat online gambling seriously, as it can cause problems if taken otherwise. In case you spot any signs of gambling addiction from someone you know, the following sources will be of great help:
Summary
Norway ranks among the most strictly regulated countries in Europe regarding gambling. Playing online poker in Norway is legal, but there are no licensed online poker platforms: the state-run monopoly, Norsk Tipping, does not provide poker, and global operators such as PokerStars and GGPoker have already left the market. As a result, players are forced to seek alternatives among offshore sites, although access to these platforms is restricted and often subject to blocks.
Live poker is also almost completely banned, with only small-scale home games allowed and the annual Norwegian Championship of Poker taking place abroad. Despite these restrictions, Norwegians have achieved significant success in global poker: Annette Obrestad, Felix Stephenson, Johnny Lodden, and others have brought fame to the country at major tournaments.
Worldpokerdeals continues to be a reliable source for Norwegian players, helping them choose reputable offshore platforms, offering competitive rakeback deals, and ensuring safe deposit options.
FAQ
Now let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about online poker Norge:
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