Who Are the Bonus Hunters, and Why Are They Against the iGaming Monopoly in Norway?

If you spend any time around online gambling communities, you’ve probably heard of bonus hunters — players who make it their mission to chase down every casino bonus they can find. They’re strategic, they’re active, and they know the market inside out. But in Norway, these players have also become a symbol of frustration with the country’s strict gambling monopoly.

Let’s take a closer look at who they are, how they play, and why they’re so strongly opposed to Norway’s current iGaming system.

Bonus hunters are players who sign up at multiple online casinos specifically to take advantage of welcome bonuses or free spins. Instead of sticking with one site for long-term play, they move from one operator to another — collecting bonuses, playing through the requirements, and then moving on to the next offer

For many, it’s not about reckless gambling — it’s about smart play. Bonus hunters read the terms carefully, understand wagering requirements, and know how to identify fair promotions versus those designed to trap casual players.

They’re essentially the “savvy shoppers” of the iGaming world: always looking for the best deal, comparing platforms, and using bonuses to reduce their own risk.

Under Norway’s current gambling laws, only two state-controlled operators — Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto — are allowed to offer gambling services. This means that the huge range of bonuses found on international sites are strictly off-limits within the official system.

For bonus hunters, that’s a major frustration. Norsk Tipping doesn’t offer welcome bonuses, deposit matches, cashback, or loyalty rewards — all of which are standard features in most other countries. The idea behind the monopoly is to protect players from problem gambling, but to many experienced players, it simply removes the fun and competitive edge.

As a result, many bonus hunters prefer to use offshore casinos and sportsbooks, especially those licensed in Malta (MGA). These sites offer the variety and freedom that Norway’s monopoly lacks, even if they operate in a legal grey area.

Ironically, bonus hunters have had a big influence on how international operators target the Norwegian market. Because this group is so active and responsive to promotions, many companies now create multiple casino brands under the same ownership — each one offering a “new” welcome bonus to attract repeat players.

This trend has made the offshore iGaming scene even more dynamic. While it sometimes leads to a flood of nearly identical sites, it also shows how much player behavior drives innovation — even in a country where gambling is supposed to be tightly controlled.

From a player’s perspective, the frustration isn’t just about bonuses. It’s about freedom of choice. Bonus hunters argue that the monopoly limits competition and prevents Norwegians from enjoying the same diversity and promotional opportunities that players in Sweden, Denmark, or the UK have under their licensing systems.

They believe that a regulated licensing model, where multiple operators can compete fairly under government oversight, would strike a better balance between player protection and market innovation.

To conclude, bonus hunters might seem like a niche group, but they represent a wider sentiment among Norwegian players: a desire for freedom, better offers, and more variety. Their opposition to the monopoly isn’t just about chasing bonuses — it’s about pushing for a gambling market that’s modern, competitive, and built around player choice.