Norway gets tough with online gambling payment processors

Norway’s gambling regulator is backing up its tough talk by taking action against unauthorized online gambling payment processing repeat offenders.

Earlier this year, the Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteri-og Stiftelsestilsynet aka Lotteritilsynet) ordered local banks to sever ties with seven companies that the regulator deemed to be processing payments on behalf of online gambling sites not approved to accept wagers from Norwegian punters.

Late last week, Lotteritilsynet announced that it had sent new notices to local banks regarding two of these seven firms – Magyar s.r.o. (Trustly AB) and Entercash Ltd – after the regulator determined the firms had changed their registration information and continued to process online gambling payments in defiance of the regulator’s orders.

According to Lotteritilsynet, its investigation revealed that Entercash had handled over 130k separate transactions with Norwegian punters between June and August, for a total value of NOK 675m (US $80.5m). The regulator says Entercash has failed to demonstrate that it conducts any legal non-gambling business in Norway.