Norsk Tipping sets winnings spending limit

Norwegian state gambling operator Norsk Tipping has introduced a new limit setting that will automatically stop customers from gambling with winnings of over NOK20,000 (£1,800/€2,080/$2,360) per month.

The operator has said that the move is designed to decrease the risk of problem gambling among its customers. Winnings of this amount or more will now be paid directly into a player’s bank account.

Norsk Tipping recently carried out research that showed players who had won larger amounts went on to spend more money.

Over the course of a year, the operator studied these players for the 10 weeks before and after their large win, and found that on average, losses increased by 43% in the weeks following the win.

For customers who played high-frequency online games, this percentage was much higher, with losses for online casino approximately 300% higher than before the win, and for live odds, 100% higher.

The decision to limit the amount of winnings that customers can spend is set to impact around 10,000 of Norsk Tipping’s two million customers each year.

“For large customers who play a lot and win often, this could probably be perceived as a disadvantage,” Norsk Tipping head of responsible gaming Bjørn Helge Hoffmann said.

“Nevertheless, consequences for vulnerable players can be far more dramatic. The concern of the vulnerable players goes before the consideration of high players.”