The government’s tight grip on gambling has left players looking for alternatives, and as a result, many end up using platforms that operate in a gray zone. It’s a tricky situation that keeps growing, and so far, the state has struggled to keep it under control.

At the moment, Norway only has one legal, state-owned bookmaker: Norsk Tipping. It’s the only licensed operator, and while it’s legal, it doesn’t offer the variety or excitement many bettors want. That’s why so many Norwegians turn to unlicensed, international betting sites. These companies operate without approval and outside the government’s regulations, which raises concerns about fairness and safety for users.

To fight this growing “black market,” the Norwegian government has been cracking down with new restrictions. They’ve already tried blocking payments to unlicensed sites and banned advertising for them. Now, they’re taking things even further.

The next big step is DNS blocking, which will come into force on January 1, 2025. This means the government will block access to unlicensed gambling websites through internet providers. Essentially, Norwegians trying to visit these sites will hit a digital “no entry” sign. The goal is to force players back to the state-regulated platform, where things are more tightly controlled and (hopefully) safer for users.

So, what does this mean for the betting market? On one hand, DNS blocking might reduce the number of people using illegal sites. If the government successfully blocks access, the black market could shrink. On the other hand, critics argue that people will always find ways around restrictions, so it’s possible many bettors will just continue as usual.

At the end of the day, it’s hard to say how effective these measures will be. Norwegian players clearly want more variety than the state monopoly offers, and simply blocking websites might not fix the problem. Some say a licensing system—like the one used in other countries—could be a better solution. Instead of chasing illegal platforms, the government could regulate international operators and offer safer, legal options. This solution also brings an extra source of taxes to the budget, not to mention that gambling companies tend to sponsor sports events and clubs in countries where it is legally allowed.

For now, though, it looks like the restrictions are only getting stricter. Whether this shrinks the market or pushes players further into the gray zone remains to be seen.