Humanitarian organizations push for increase of lottery revenue cap in Norway

Currently, the WWF World Wildlife Fund and SOS Children’s Villages share the profits from the Postcode Lottery. Starting in 2026, they may collaborate with 21 other humanitarian organizations, which believe the government should promptly remove the cap on lottery revenues. Both the Bottle Lottery and the Postcode Lottery are expected to reach revenue limits of 360 million NOK this year. Without an extension of the income cap, both lotteries could face suspension this autumn.

There is a growing demand for humanitarian aid due to wars, climate change, and natural disasters in Norway, prompting 23 organizations to apply collectively to take over the Postcode Lottery from 2026. The current income ceiling of 360 million NOK is deemed insufficient by these groups.

Hege Lilleheil Horsberg from Norwegian People’s Aid states, “The humanitarian needs are enormous.” Among the organizations advocating for change are Doctors Without Borders, Norwegian People’s Aid, Church Aid, and Caritas. They emphasize the increasing demand for their services amid rising global conflicts and disasters.

One significant argument from these organizations is that large lotteries typically foster little to no gambling addiction. Horsberg notes that the structure of the Postcode Lottery provides a safe gambling environment, which is essential for their operations.

The Ministry of Culture is currently reviewing their request. Deputy Secretary Erlend Hanstveit acknowledges the organizations’ need to increase their lottery revenue limits and is preparing a proposal for a public consultation regarding this issue.

Additionally, there are calls for a national lottery operating model to minimize administrative costs, ensuring that a larger proportion of revenue is allocated to charitable causes, especially if revenue limits are increased. Aksel Mjøs, an associate professor at the Norwegian School of Economics, argues for a solution allowing individuals to choose which causes their contributions support.