Norway is one of the few European countries that maintains a strict gambling monopoly. In recent years, Lotteritilsynet, the Norwegian Gambling Authority, has intensified its action against unlicensed companies targeting local players.
Norway’s closed market operates through an exclusive-rights model led by Norsk Tipping, while Norsk Rikstoto covers horse-race betting. Private companies cannot apply for a general Norwegian online casino license. Businesses considering jurisdictions open to private licensing can review the top countries for starting a licensed gambling company.
The regulator has warned gambling companies about coercive fines and DNS blocking and ordered influencers to stop promoting unauthorized services. These measures show that Lotteritilsynet is prepared to act against both operators and promoters.
Yet the outcome of the Trannel case raises a practical issue: what happens when a foreign company leaves Norway without paying the penalty?
A Historic Ruling in 2022
One of Norway’s most significant gambling enforcement actions began in September 2022, shortly before Lotteritilsynet received expanded powers under amendments to the Norwegian Gambling Act.
The authority imposed a daily coercive fine of NOK 1.198 million for every day the unlawful activity continued.
The sanction targeted the online casino Storspiller, operated by Trannel International Ltd., a company associated with major international brands including Unibet, MariaCasino, and Bingo.com.
The accumulated fines eventually reached approximately NOK 21 million, equivalent to around EUR 1.8 million at current exchange rates.
At the time, this was the largest financial penalty imposed by the Norwegian Gambling Authority. That record was surpassed in 2025 when state-owned monopoly operator Norsk Tipping was fined NOK 36 million for regulatory violations.
Based on statutory late-payment interest rates, Trannel’s total potential exposure may be higher. However, the authorities have not formally confirmed the estimated interest of an additional EUR 700,000 to EUR 800,000.
Compliance Without Payment
Trannel gradually withdrew its Norway-facing operations following the enforcement action. The Storspiller brand disappeared, and direct marketing to Norwegian consumers stopped.
Correspondence between Lotteritilsynet and Trannel shows that the parties remained in contact from the start of the daily fines until the regulator concluded that the unlawful targeting had ended.
Lotteritilsynet then closed the supervisory case because Trannel had complied with the order to stop targeting Norway, not because the accumulated fine had been paid.
The action therefore achieved its main operational objective: Trannel left the market. The financial outcome was less clear.
Was the Fine Ever Paid?
It remained unclear whether the outstanding amount was settled, addressed during FDJ United’s acquisition of Kindred Group, transferred with Trannel when the company was sold, or left as an unenforced claim.
The answer affects how foreign gambling companies assess the actual financial risk of targeting Norwegian players without authorization.
Kindred’s Acquisition and the Sale of Trannel
Kindred Group, the parent company of MariaCasino and Unibet, was fully acquired by FDJ United in October 2024. At the time, Trannel International Ltd. operated several international online gambling brands within the Kindred Group structure.
Approximately three weeks after the acquisition was completed, Trannel International Ltd. was sold to Venture Labs, a Sofia-based company. Reports presented the transaction as part of FDJ United’s strategy to operate only in locally regulated markets.
The Norwegian administrative fine had been imposed on Trannel International Ltd. before FDJ United acquired Kindred. The outstanding claim therefore remained relevant after both the Kindred acquisition and the subsequent sale of Trannel.
Publicly available information does not clarify how the outstanding fine was handled during FDJ United’s acquisition of Kindred or the subsequent sale of Trannel. FDJ United had not publicly addressed the status of the claim at the time of publication.
What the Authorities Said
Statens innkrevingssentral (SI), which operates under the Norwegian Tax Administration, was responsible for handling the claim. Lotteritilsynet provided the following written explanation regarding its status:
"“We have tried to get a clear answer from Statens innkrevingssentral (SI) about this to be able to answer you, because we are a bit unsure from what we can see from our access to information in the SI user portal.
From what we can see, Trannel has not paid the imposed fine, and they have not acknowledged the claim. The claim appears to be time-barred (obsolescence). The claim cannot be enforced with coercive power outside Norway.”
Strong Enforcement Signals, but Limited Financial Impact?
Lotteritilsynet’s response indicates that Trannel did not pay or formally acknowledge the fine. The claim also appeared to be time-barred and could not be enforced through coercive measures outside Norway.
Lotteritilsynet has built a reputation for active supervision through daily fines, public warnings, marketing restrictions, and DNS blocking. Other European regulators have taken similar action against unauthorized businesses. One example is the Malta Gaming Authority’s response to false licensing claims, although Malta and Norway operate under very different regulatory models.
In one respect, the action against Trannel worked: the company stopped targeting Norwegian players. However, daily fines may have a weaker deterrent effect when they cannot be collected from foreign businesses without assets in Norway.
The case suggests that Norway’s system relies heavily on operational and reputational pressure. A substantial financial penalty may have little practical effect once the company leaves the country and the claim can no longer be enforced.
The Netherlands is considering a different form of market restriction. Its new coalition has proposed limiting online gambling licenses and banning gambling advertisements, although industry representatives warn that the measures could direct more players toward unlicensed operators.
The remaining question is whether coercive fines provide an effective long-term deterrent when foreign operators can exit the market without paying them.
Licensing Options Outside Norway
Norway does not accept private online casino license applications. A foreign gambling license cannot be used to target Norwegian players or bypass the country’s exclusive-rights model.
Companies seeking a regulated European base for other permitted markets may consider a Malta Gaming Authority license. Malta provides separate authorizations for B2C gaming services and B2B critical gaming supplies. The available structures are covered in the guide to Malta gaming license types and game classifications.
An MGA license does not grant access to the Norwegian market. Each target country must be assessed separately before gambling services are offered there.
If you require legal guidance on gambling regulation or selecting an appropriate licensing jurisdiction, you may submit an inquiry through the form on our website. The Equilex team will review your request, and a specialist will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the most suitable options for your business.
