Norway’s new unified gambling law has been submitted to the European Commission (EC) for approval but a local broadcaster has mounted a legal challenge of the law’s ban on online gambling advertising.

Last week, Norway submitted its new draft gambling act to the EC for perusal to ensure it conforms to European Union edicts. The draft is therefore in a ‘standstill’ period, meaning interested parties can submit objections until November 13. If the EC finds no fault, the law will take effect on January 1, 2021.  

A couple months ago, Norway’s government proposed unifying the three existing gambling laws into a single document. The intention was to shore up the Norsk Tipping (lottery, betting, casino) and Norsk Rikstoto (racing) monopolies, while giving the government greater powers to combat unauthorized competitors. 

The draft law includes the right for the Lotteritilsynet regulatory body to impose “coercive” fines, either as a daily penalty or a lump sum, when it detects unauthorized activities. The regulator also reserves the right to impose coercive fines “in advance” if it feels a transgressor will likely continue to conduct themselves with no regard for Norway’s rules. Prison sentences of up to three years potentially await particularly egregious offenders.