Himanshu Gulati, a senior politician for Norway’s Progress Party, announced plans to replace the national gambling monopoly with a licensing system. He made the statement during the Spillkonferansen conference this week.
Gulati identified the transition to a licensed online gambling model as the party’s primary cultural priority upon returning to power. The Progress Party first proposed ending the monopoly in 2021. MP Silje Hjemdal previously noted that the current system allows significant revenue to leave the country rather than supporting domestic sports and culture.
Election Results and Past Reforms
The policy discussion follows the general election held in September 2025. The Labour Party retained power with 28.2% of the vote and 53 parliamentary seats. The Progress Party achieved gains, securing 48 seats representing 24% of the vote.
Gulati referenced previous deregulation efforts led by his party, including the legalization of cash poker a decade ago and the removal of restrictions for professional athletes like boxer Cecilia Brækhus. He also cited the repeal of the Segway ban as a precedent for updating outdated legislation. Gulati argued that Norway’s monopoly system is isolated in Europe, noting that markets such as Finland and Albania have already adopted licensing models.