Norsk Rikstoto Faces Possible Daily Fines from Regulator
Norsk Rikstoto, the state-backed operator that manages horse racing betting in Norway, has received a warning from the country’s gambling regulator that it could be subject to daily financial penalties if several responsible gambling shortcomings are not addressed.
The notice follows an inspection carried out by Lotteritilsynet between October 6 and December 10, 2025. The review assessed whether the operator is complying with obligations set out in Norway’s Gambling Act and the accompanying Gambling Regulation.
During the inspection, regulators paid particular attention to how Norsk Rikstoto manages high-risk players and its system of loss limits. According to Lotteritilsynet, the investigation identified four areas where the operator failed to meet responsible gambling requirements.
Four breaches highlighted by the regulator
The conclusions were based on multiple sources, including documentation provided by the company, analysis of player data, spot checks and an on-site visit in December that included interviews with company representatives.
One of the issues identified relates to the operator’s risk management and internal control processes. While Norsk Rikstoto maintains a system intended to detect and reduce operational risks, the regulator found that some identified risks had not been properly monitored or addressed.
In one instance, a specific risk lacked both an assigned owner and a deadline for mitigation measures. According to the regulator, this raises concerns that necessary risk management actions may not be implemented effectively.
Another breach involves the operator’s approach to loss limits and gambling pauses. Lotteritilsynet determined that the current system allows players to accumulate unused loss limits while they are taking a voluntary gambling break.
The regulator said this setup undermines the purpose of the rules, as a player who pauses gambling due to concerns about their behaviour could return later with a larger allowable loss limit than before the break.
Self-exclusion tools not clearly displayed
The inspection also revealed issues with how self-exclusion and gambling pause tools are presented on the platform.
Norwegian regulations require these features to be easily visible to users. However, Lotteritilsynet observed that the pause function was not available on all relevant pages. This includes sections where players commonly browse race information before placing bets.
The fourth breach concerns the way Norsk Rikstoto communicates information about gambling risks to customers.
Operators are expected to actively inform players about the potential risks linked to gambling, including ways to reduce those risks and where support services can be found. According to the regulator, these messages were not always sufficiently clear, particularly during the registration process for new customers and when players modify their loss limits.
Possible financial penalties
Lotteritilsynet has warned that daily fines could be imposed if the issues are not corrected within the deadlines set by the regulator.
The proposed penalty structure includes:
NOK 5,000 (€435) per day for three of the breaches
NOK 10,000 (€870) per day for the violation related to loss limit rollover during gambling pauses
If implemented, the fines would start accumulating from April 1, 2026 for three of the breaches. The penalty linked to the rollover issue would begin from May 16, 2026.
Deadlines for corrective action
The regulator has also set specific deadlines for Norsk Rikstoto to resolve the issues and provide documentation confirming the changes.
By March 31, 2026, the operator must improve its risk assessment procedures, ensure gambling pause tools are clearly visible across the platform and strengthen communication about gambling risks.
A second deadline of May 15, 2026 has been set for implementing technical changes that prevent unused loss limits from accumulating during gambling pauses.
Before the regulator makes a final decision, Norsk Rikstoto has been given three weeks to submit comments or respond to the notice.
