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 | Deposit Bonus |
| 1 | GGpoker | up to $600 |
| 2 | WPT Global | up to $1200 |
| 3 | Pokerking | up to $2000 |
| 4 | Betonline poker | up to $1000 |
GG Poker can boast a community of over 100,000 active players that prefer the platform for access to Texas Holdem, Omaha, and Shortdeck MTTs and multiple daily events. GGPoker is an official WSOP partner, which is why it can guarantee regular activities and a high level of player engagement. When it comes to the welcome bonus, newcomers can claim a 100% welcome promo up to 600 USD in 5 USD shares for every 20 USD of rake. The rakeback rate itself can reach 60% for the most advanced members of the VIP program this platform has.
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
As for 2022, the online poker industry of Norway continues to grow after its initial boom that was a result of 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, Sportsbetting, 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 stopped blocking sites with foreign licenses.
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 Sections 5 to 50(1) of the Taxation Act, gambling winnings are not taxable if they come from Norwegian companies. In case of receiving cashouts over 10,000 NOK from a non-Norwegian source, the player will have to pay 28% tax. Everything below 10,000 NOK, which is around 1,000 EUR, is non-taxable too.
Best Norway poker players
The Kingdom of Norway is definitely a nation of enthusiastic poker players. As for 2022, the total winnings in live circuits reach 138.3 million USD, and poker players from the country take 20th place worldwide in terms of poker profits. Among them, we have to mention the best ones:
- Felix Vincent Stephensen. Champion of EPT and Aussie Millions tournaments, 5.8M USD in profits.
- Annette Obrestad. Champion of WSOPE, 3.9M in profits.
- Thor Hansen. WSOP champion, 2.9M USD in profits.
- Johnny Lodden. 2.8M USD in profits.
According to The Hendon Mob website, 15 Norwegian players can boast over 1M USD of profits from the live poker circuit.
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
Playing online poker in Norway is legal, but only at the state-controlled website of Norsk Tipping. Despite strict laws that prohibit using foreign unlicensed platforms, over 10% of the country's population chooses the latter over Norsk Tipping because of its poor functionality and odds. This is possible because the majority of online poker rooms accept users from Norway and the regulations do not impose any prosecutions on those who break them. The online poker industry in the Kingdom of Norway shows a positive trend for future development.
FAQ
Now let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about online poker Norge:
✅ Can I play online poker in Norway?
Yes, you can use the Norsk Tipping website, which is owned by the state, or gamble on foreign trusted platforms.
✅ What is the best online poker room for Norway players?
The answer will differ for every player, as there are multiple factors that affect the choice of an operator. To make it easier for you, we provide a list of the best poker sites in Norway.
✅ Can I play at PokerStars in Norway?
Yes, Norwegian players can use PokerStars without any restrictions. Moreover, ecoPayz is completely integrated for Norwegian players now.
✅ Is gambling in Norway legal?
Yes, gambling in Norway has been legal since 1902. The legal age for using any gambling services in the country is 18 or older.
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