Norway has officially renewed the license for Pantelotteriet for a new nine-year term commencing March 1, 2026. While the renewal was anticipated, the formal confirmation that minors will remain exempt from the nation’s standard 18-year gambling age limit has sparked significant debate across the Nordic regulatory landscape.
The Bottle Deposit Lottery Mechanic
Pantelotteriet is uniquely integrated into Norway’s recycling infrastructure. When consumers return empty bottles to reverse vending machines in grocery stores, they can choose to gamble their deposit refund for a lottery ticket.
With a top prize of NOK 1 million (approximately €100,000), the system operates as an instant lottery, delivering results immediately on the machine screen, a mechanic critics argue closely mirrors rapid-cycle slot products.
“No More Dangerous Than a Cake Lottery”
Managing Director Gaute Langdal defended the age exemption, suggesting that the product does not inherently attract youth. Speaking to NRK, Langdal stated:
“To date, not a single child has won the top prize. That shows that Pantelotteriet does not attract children and young people. They would rather buy an ice cream with their deposit money.”
He further questioned the necessity of a universal age limit, noting, “I am not particularly ideological about this… Pantelotteriet is no more dangerous than a cake lottery outside your local shop on a Saturday”.
Backlash from Advocacy Groups
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Spillavhengighet Norge (Gambling Addiction Norway). Representative Magnus Pedersen described the exemption as “outrageous,” warning that early exposure is a known catalyst for future addiction.
The ruling creates a notable regulatory contradiction in Norway. While the Norwegian Gambling Authority (Lotteritilsynet) maintains a strict monopoly and aggressive stance against gambling influencers to shield minors, it has now formally sanctioned a gambling product accessible to children in every local grocery store.
