NRK probe finds Norway DNS blocking did not reduce traffic to offshore casinos

NRK, Norway’s national broadcaster, investigated the impact of domain name system (DNS) blocking and concluded that the number of visitors to 48 casinos blocked in March 2025 rose by 30% after the blocking order took effect. The investigation covered 115 sites in total and found that, although two subsequent rounds of blocking (June 2025 and February 2026) reduced traffic to the targeted sites, 67 of those domains continued to record more than 7.1 million visits since they were subjected to DNS measures.

Detailed traffic findings

NRK measured traffic from Norway to 48 casinos that had their access blocked in March 2025 and observed a 30% increase in visitors to those sites after the block. The publication expanded its sample to 115 pages that have been subject to blocking orders in different rounds: March 2025, June 2025 and February 2026.

The two subsequent rounds of blocking, carried out in June 2025 and February 2026, showed a fall in traffic to the sites specifically targeted on those dates. Even so, the 67 domains subject to DNS measures continued to accumulate more than 7.1 million visits in the period after their inclusion in the blocking list.

The tool NRK used to estimate traffic was provided by the US company Semrush; NRK and, according to statements, the regulator itself use the same methodology to analyse and substantiate enforcement cases.

Regulator response and political reaction

The regulatory authority, the Norwegian Gambling and Foundation Authority (Lottstift), has presented DNS blocking powers as a key tool to protect the national monopoly. Lottstift has ordered the blocking of 238 sites operated by 72 different companies. According to officials, 71 of those sites altered their offering to prevent access from Norway.

Tore Bell, director of Lottstift, defended continued use of the blocks in comments to NRK:

"Another measurement shows a more flat development, so we see no growth. We believe there would have been more players from foreign companies if it weren't for DNS blocking, and for banks to stop bets and winnings," said Tore Bell.

The Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Boby Jaffery, answered a parliamentary question on 5 November by calling for a review of the site blocking. Jaffery said the data “contribute to the need to examine more closely the regulation related to DNS blocking” and announced she will commission Lottstift to carry out an evaluation of the effectiveness of its blocking efforts.

Industry criticism and policy issues

The investigation fuelled criticism about whether DNS blocking fulfils its stated purpose of protecting Norsk Tipping, Norway’s state gambling operator and monopoly. European operators that had previously operated in a grey market retreated, but operators based in offshore hubs such as Curaçao have filled the gap.

Carl Fredrik Stenstrøm, secretary general of the trade association NBO, said the measure “completely fails in the intention, which is to protect vulnerable groups” and described it as evidence of gambling policy that “does not work”. The shift in the political landscape after the 2025 elections also creates uncertainty: although the Labour Party won the largest number of seats, it governs in minority, while the combined number of seats held by the Progress Party and the Conservative Party is larger and both campaigned to abolish the monopoly.

The Liberal Party has expressed opposition to the DNS blocking on grounds of individual freedoms. Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik, deputy leader of the party, said the NRK data show that DNS blocking is a “fruitless measure” that imposes a cost in principle without achieving the desired effect.

What happens next: review and evaluation

Minister Lubna Boby Jaffery will instruct Lottstift to carry out a formal evaluation of how successful the DNS blocking measures have been. Lottstift maintains that the traffic estimates supplied by Semrush are only estimates, and points to surveys that, according to the regulator, show a decrease in the number of offshore gamblers in 2025. Nonetheless, the authority does not dispute that it uses similar tools and methodology in its own enforcement cases. The ministerial order and the regulator’s position together frame the official review process that will be used to assess policy and implementation; this process is likely to be documented by the regulator and discussed in parliamentary oversight.

The dispute now raises technical, legal and political considerations: the NRK data, Lottstift’s assertions and the ministerial order for a formal evaluation form the file that will determine whether Norway changes, maintains or abandons use of DNS blocking as an instrument to protect the monopoly and pursue gambling policy objectives. For coverage of legislative and regulatory developments see [regulation](/regulation) and for original reporting see [news](/news).