Himanshu Gulati, a senior representative of Norway’s Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet, FrP), has indicated a significant policy shift in the country’s gambling sector. Addressing the annual Spillkonferansen conference, Gulati asserted that dismantling Norway’s gambling monopoly and implementing a licensing model would be a central cultural policy objective if the party returns to power.
“I have for many years said internally in my party that when there is a change of government, the licence model in the gambling field must be the most important cultural political issue for the Progress Party,” Gulati stated. He emphasized that reforming the regulated gambling environment aligns with the party’s broader pragmatic agenda.
The Progress Party first advocated ending the monopoly in 2021. MP Silje Hjemdal noted in a previous conference, “We must regulate better, and the way the model is today, there are actually very large sums of money that are sent out of the country every year, without going back to Norwegian sports or culture.” While the Labour Party holds the most parliamentary seats following the 2025 general election, the Progress Party gained 48 seats, achieving 24% of the vote.
Past Deregulation Efforts
Gulati referenced prior initiatives, including legalizing cash poker and removing restrictions for professional athletes such as boxer Cecilia Brækhus. He also cited the elimination of the Segway ban, suggesting that outdated prohibitions, like those governing gambling, require reassessment. “Some of the current rules and restrictions are, in my opinion, contrary to all common sense,” he added.
He called for discussions based on facts and knowledge, criticizing debates dominated by assumptions regarding social harms and revenue allocation. Norway’s monopoly system remains unique in Europe, with countries like Finland and Albania moving toward licensed models. Finland’s liberalized iGaming market is set to launch in 2027, with 50 operators having already applied for licences.
Evaluating Monopoly Effectiveness
Gulati questioned whether the monopoly continues to serve its intended purpose, particularly as offshore gambling gains popularity and channelisation remains low. “The question is whether the model we have had for all these years still generates the most money for the purpose,” he asked. Concerns have arisen over Norsk Tipping’s internal controls following technical errors affecting lottery payouts and Eurojackpot issues. Platform performance and user experience shortcomings have also been noted.
Addressing Problem Gambling
The politician highlighted a lack of coordinated efforts to combat problem gambling. “Regardless of where one stands politically on gambling policy, even if one wants total prohibition, we must agree that the work to combat problematic gambling behaviour must be coordinated and consistent.” Norway has recently introduced a four-year plan to prevent and treat problem gambling, and the conference also addressed match-fixing, with Gulati advocating for improved detection and deterrence measures.
The Progress Party frames the transition to a licensed system as both a practical and principled step, aiming to modernize Norway’s gambling framework and align it with broader European standards.
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