for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Norsk Rikstoto, the state-backed operator responsible for horse racing betting in Norway, has been warned by the country’s gambling regulator that it could face daily fines if several responsible gambling violations are not corrected.
The warning follows a regulatory inspection by Lotteritilsynet conducted between October 6 and December 10, 2025, examining whether the operator complies with requirements under Norway’s Gambling Act and Gambling Regulation.
The inspection focused particularly on high-risk players and Norsk Rikstoto’s loss limit framework. According to the regulator, the review uncovered four breaches related to responsible gambling safeguards.
Regulator identifies four compliance failures
The findings are based on documentation submitted by Norsk Rikstoto, customer data analysis, spot checks, and an on-site inspection conducted in December that included interviews with company representatives.
The first breach concerns risk assessment and internal control procedures. While Norsk Rikstoto has a system designed to identify and mitigate operational risks, the regulator found that several key risks had not been properly followed up.
In particular, one identified risk lacked both a designated risk owner and a mitigation deadline, raising concerns that necessary risk-reducing measures may not be implemented in practice.
The second violation relates to loss limits and gambling pauses. Lotteritilsynet concluded that Norsk Rikstoto’s current setup allows players to accumulate unused loss limits — often referred to as rollover — during a self-imposed gambling pause.
According to the regulator, this practice contradicts the purpose of the rules. A player who pauses gambling due to concerns about their behavior could potentially return with a significantly higher loss limit than before the break.
Issues with self-exclusion visibility
The inspection also found shortcomings in how Norsk Rikstoto displays its self-exclusion and gambling pause tools.
Norwegian regulations require these features to be clearly visible in the user interface. However, the regulator observed that the pause button was not displayed on all relevant pages, including sections where players often review race information before placing bets.
The fourth breach concerns player communication about gambling risks.
Operators are required to actively inform players about the risks associated with gambling, including how risks can be reduced and where help can be sought. Lotteritilsynet found that Norsk Rikstoto’s messaging was insufficient in some cases, particularly during new customer registration and when players adjust their loss limits.
Daily fines could apply
Lotteritilsynet has warned that daily fines may be imposed if the violations are not corrected within the specified deadlines.
The regulator has proposed the following penalty structure:
NOK 5,000 (€435) per day per breach for three of the violations
NOK 10,000 (€870) per day for the breach related to rollover during gambling pauses
The fines could begin accruing from April 1, 2026, for three of the violations, and from May 16, 2026, for the rollover-related issue.
Compliance deadlines set
Norsk Rikstoto has been given deadlines to implement corrective measures and provide documentation to the regulator:
March 31, 2026: risk assessment improvements, visibility of pause tools, and stronger player risk communication
May 15, 2026: technical changes preventing rollover accumulation during gambling pauses
Before a final decision is made, the operator has the right to submit comments within three weeks of receiving the notice.
