Norway sees rise in problem gambling – and not only during COVID-19

Recently, there has been much talk about the impact that problem gambling is having on the lives of people across the world. With many of us still in lockdown, the ease of which we can have some gaming time on our PCs, phones, and tablets makes getting access easier. And while the industry has seen a total slowdown in things like new casino sites opening up, we are seeing a rise in problem gambling in some countries.

One nation that has seen a startling rise in problem gambling is Norway. Despite having one of the most robust licensing and regulation programs around, problem gambling looks to be a growing concern in the country. So much so that the European Gaming and Betting Commission has stepped in to voice their fear about what is happening.

A University of Bergen study found that problem gambling is growing quite significantly. While some might attribute these figures purely to the lockdown, it’s not only that. Indeed, there has been a rise of some 62% since 2015. The figures have been so stark that the EGBA has made it clear that it thinks Norway has to look at a change in its state-operated way of dealing with things.

As one of the last nations in Europe to still have a state-dominated market, this is going to likely see a change in how the country manages its regulation and control over the entire gambling industry.