The Norwegian online gambling industry has grown by a substantial 6.1% in the last year, according to figures released this week by the Norwegian Gambling Commission.

Choice gaming
An estimated 244,000 Norwegians gambled online in the last year, spending a total of Euro 961 million. The state lottery was the most popular choice with 48% of gamers choosing this online option. This was followed by online poker sites coming in at 28% and online sports betting at 27%.

Foreign players
82.9 % of online gambling revenue was directed at foreign providers, with Norwegian operators: Norsk Rikstoto and Norsk Tipping receiving a further $258 million.

Male ratio
Research conducted amongst 10,000 Norwegians between the ages of 16-74 revealed that 12% of adult men had gambled online during 2007, as compared with only 2% of adult women. 9% of adult gamblers chose to do so via mobile phones.

State restrictions
These statistics spell happy times for offshore providers although the Norwegian government will not be best pleased as they try to maintain their control of Norwegian gaming. Minister of Culture and Churches, Trond Griske will be feeling particularly peeved following his previous efforts to ban online financial transactions with foreign gambling providers.

So whether gamers are clicking through to offshore providers or Norway's state monopoly sites, one thing is guaranteed: Norwegian online gambling is here to stay.