Posted on: October 23, 2023, 08:10h.
Last updated on: October 23, 2023, 08:10h.
Finland has recognized that gaming monopolies are ineffective, but Norway is taking a different approach. The country is proposing new legislation to require ISPs to block access to all iGaming platforms. This move comes after two years of discussions on DNS blocking for unlicensed websites.
To enforce the legislation, ISPs would be required to implement measures that prevent users from accessing restricted websites. When a user attempts to reach a blocked website, they will be redirected to a designated landing page explaining why access was denied.
Norway’s Move to Strengthen Gambling Monopoly
The proposed modification to Norway’s Gambling Act, suggested by the Ministry of Culture and Equality, aims to strengthen the country’s gambling monopoly. It was swiftly approved by the cabinet on October 20.
Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery claims that DNS blocking is necessary due to non-compliant gaming operators. If these operators had followed Norwegian law, DNS blocking would not be required.
This may have been a subtle reference to Kindred and other operators still targeting the Norwegian iGaming market. Kindred, after years of contention with the government, announced in June that it would leave the country and reportedly exited in September.
The decision to bolster the gambling monopoly and block unlicensed operators is not surprising. Norway recently extended the monopoly held by Norsk Rikstoto for another decade.
However, there are concerns about the effectiveness of gambling monopolies in protecting players and the potential loss of revenue for governments that do not embrace the activity.
Finland learned this lesson with Veikkaus, its failed attempt at a gambling monopoly. The country is now seeking to change directions.
Risks in Norway’s Monopolistic Approach
Norway is relying on DNS blocking as a means of protecting its gambling monopoly. However, as with all forms of gambling, there are no guarantees.
DNS plays a critical role in internet infrastructure, translating user-friendly domain names into numeric IP addresses associated with web servers. Users can bypass DNS blocks by using alternative DNS servers or Virtual Private Networks (VPN).
Alternative DNS servers, like Google’s 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, can sometimes circumvent ISP restrictions. VPNs encrypt internet connections and route them through servers in different locations, masking IP addresses. While not foolproof, VPNs have a higher success rate than failure rate in bypassing DNS blocks.
Internet users can utilize Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to bypass DNS blocks. VPNs encrypt connections and route them through servers in different locations, effectively masking the user’s IP address and DNS requests.
Despite the introduction of DNS blocking and potential penalties for ISPs, there are technical methods available for users to access blocked websites and evade restrictions.