Norwegian lawmakers want gambling axed from consumer rights act

Norway’s Ministry of Children and Family Affairs wants the national legislature, the Storting, to remove gambling from the Right of Withdrawal Act. This was the thrust of a bill the body sent to the country’s legislative body this week.

The Right of Withdrawal Act of 2014 marked the nation’s implementation of the EU’s 2021 Consumer Rights Directive. In essence, the Act regulates consumer-trader agreements for distance selling or sales away from business premises. It requires traders to provide information before a contract is concluded, and allows consumers 14 days to withdraw without giving any reasons. 

While the EU exempted gambling sites from these measures, Norway included them in a bid to enhance consumer protection for online gaming and wagering activities.

However, the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs has said that since it was difficult to implement requirements for prior information and the right to withdraw in the case of online gambling, it should be exempted from the law. 

The proposed bill comes after several discussions the ministry conducted with various Norwegian government entities, academic establishments, political groups, gaming enterprises, and non-governmental organizations. The bill, if passed, would not only exempt gambling from the Act, but also correct inaccuracies in the wording of the legislation.

The Norwegian Industry Association for Online Gaming (NBO) has welcomed the bill. However, it also contended that the true concern was the strict regulations that were strangling local business and strengthening the illicit market.

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