Norway’s state-owned gambling operator, Norsk Tipping, is under scrutiny again for allegedly enabling minors to participate in gambling activities. The Norwegian Lottery Authority (Lotteritilsynet) has launched an official investigation following reports that individuals below the age of 18 years might have transferred significant funds to the operator’s platform.

The inquiry was triggered by a tip from a bank, flagging relatively large sums transferred from a minor to Norsk Tipping. According to Lotteritilsynet, the regulator has received 21 similar reports of potential underage involvement with the platform since January 2024.  This is the second time in less than a year that Norsk Tipping is coming under fire.

Adult Accounts Shared With Minors

In a recent press release, Lotteritilsynet clarified that there is no evidence suggesting minors were able to create their accounts on Norsk Tipping’s platform. Instead, initial findings indicate that adults may have been sharing their accounts with underage individuals, allowing them to bypass age restrictions and gamble illegally.

However, the regulator emphasised that it is still too early to determine the full extent of the issue and has requested additional documentation from Norsk Tipping.

Nine Questions Raised for Norsk Tipping

As part of its ongoing investigation, Lotteritilsynet conducted two phone conversations with Norsk Tipping on May 8 and 9, followed by an in-person meeting on May 13. The regulator also issued a formal letter outlining nine critical questions for the operator to answer:

1. When were Apple Pay and Vipps introduced as payment options, and what risk assessments were made?
2. Has Norsk Tipping conducted follow-up risk assessments in light of the recent underage gambling reports?
3. Why wasn’t the regulator notified of the 21 cases earlier?
4. What follow-up has been conducted on these cases, and how much money was gambled?
5. Have similar cases been reported before 2024, and in what number?
6. What specific actions has Norsk Tipping taken to prevent minors from gambling via borrowed accounts?
7. Has Norsk Tipping considered suspending Apple Pay and Vipps in response to these issues?
8. How are these payment platforms evaluated in terms of verifying age and preventing account misuse?
9. Do these platforms comply with anti-money laundering standards, especially if the source of funds is unclear?

Tighter Regulations Across Norway’s Gambling Industry

The investigation into Norsk Tipping is part of a regulatory effort to tighten control over the Norwegian gambling industry. In April 2025, Lotteritilsynet launched a DNS blocking campaign, taking down 57 illegal gambling websites operated by 23 companies.

At the same time, another regulator, Lottstift, has introduced a new four-year strategy to combat match-fixing in sports. The plan, titled “Combating Manipulation of Sports Competitions – A Strategy Plan 2025-2028,” combines a range of stakeholders, including law enforcement and betting operators. The initiative focuses on preventive education and threat assessments to safeguard the integrity of sports in the country.