Norwegian authorities are stepping up efforts to protect children and young people from gambling-related harm, as a surge in calls to the national gambling helpline from younger users highlights the growing impact of online gaming and casino-style mechanics in video games.
According to the Norwegian Gaming Authority (NGA), 64% of all helpline users who identify as having a gambling problem cited casino games — particularly online slot machines — as the primary cause.
In 2024, the helpline received 836 calls or chats about gambling-related issues, a similar figure to 2023 (831). However, the dominance of casino games as the primary problem has increased, with odds-based games coming in second.
