Norwegian Casino and Card Room Gaming

Gaming machines in Norway are operated by Norsk Tipping. Prior to laws passed in 2004, Norway's machines were privately operated, and the country had one of the highest gaming machines per capita ratios in the world. There were over 17,000 amusements with prizes (AWPs) in operation in 2002.

In an effort to reduce widespread pathological gambling and to better regulate the industry, the government transferred the operation of the AWPs to the state-owned Norsk Tipping in June 2003. The transition was originally expected to be completed by 2005, but objections from private gaming-machine operators held the legislation in EEA court. Norsk Tipping formally won in 2007.

In November 2006, in anticipation of a favorable ruling by the courts, the Norwegian Ministry of Culture announced that all gaming-machine licenses would expire on 1 July 2007. All of Norway's gaming machines were removed in July 2007 and replaced by Norsk Tipping-operated video betting terminals. Charitable organizations now share a portion of the revenue.

In September 2008, government legislation went into effect requiring that all video betting terminals stop accepting cash and credit cards and could now only be used with a prepaid card sold to registered players over the age of 18. The legislation also imposed a 10-minute cooling-off period for every hour of play, during which the machines refuse the player's bets. The government also set a loss limit of USD 80 per day or USD 440 per month.