The Norwegian government has proposed an amendment to the Gambling Act that would give the Norwegian regulator the authority to DNS-block unlicensed gambling websites. This measure aims to ensure legal compliance in the country’s online gambling industry.
Currently, only state-backed enterprises are allowed to provide online gambling services to domestic consumers in Norway. However, the government has recognized the need to address the privacy implications of the proposed DNS-blocking orders.
An addendum will be added to the original proposal to address the personal and communications protection aspects that were not adequately considered in the consultation. This is in response to concerns raised by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority.
In the original consultation note, the ministry suggested that internet providers should redirect users to a landing page operated by the Norwegian Lottery Authority. However, this approach may have unintended consequences for user privacy, as the Authority is not subject to the same confidentiality rules as internet providers.
The Norwegian Data Protection Authority has deemed this proposal to be in violation of the principle of “data minimization” in the country’s data regulations. Therefore, the addendum recommends that the landing page should be owned and operated by the internet providers themselves.
Despite the original consultation taking place almost two years ago, the government does not currently have the power to block unlicensed gambling websites. However, a new proposal is set to be presented to the Norwegian parliament in November, with a planned launch date of January 1, 2024.
