Tove Paule, President of the Norwegian Sports Association, has urged the government to allow state-owned gaming operator Norsk Tipping to offer online poker along the lines of that offered by Svenska Spel.

Paule told Norwegian radio that a substantial amount of money flows out of the country to foreign online gaming companies, costing Norwegian sports and culture billions of Krone in potential contributions.

A report published by the Norwegian Gambling Commission earlier this year said that Norwegians spent 961 million euros gambling online, with 83% or 797 million euros going to foreign gaming operators.

Hans Martin Nakkim, Betsson’s Country Manager for Norway told Gaming Intelligence Group that Paule’s comments have become very a hot topic in Norway this week, with Betsson and other gaming operators following the developments closely.

Norway had been expected to introduce a ban on financial institutions from processing transactions to and from foreign online gambling operators in April. A decision on this has now been delayed until after the summer. If approved, the ban will help clear the market of competitors to Norsk Tipping.