The Norwegian government decided on Friday that credit card companies and online payment processors will not be permitted to transfer funds between Norwegian citizens and online gaming operators from Jun. 1 onwards, according to Gaming Intelligence Group.
This ban applies to all but the state monopoly holders Norsk Tipping and Rikstoto.
The move has gone ahead despite previous warning from the European Free Trade Association’s Surveillance Authority that, “such measures constitute an unjustified restriction of the freedoms of the internal market for gambling services.”
It remains to be seen now what EFTA’s response will be. Whether or not the ban was made to regulate online gambling, there is no doubt that the companies outside the realm of this ban will benefit greatly.
