For many years, gambling in Denmark was monopolized and controlled by the state-owned company Danske Spil. In 2012, the new Act on Gambling came into force and partially liberalized the Danish gambling market. Today, Danish gambling legislation is regarded as refined and explicit enough to serve as an example for other countries that intend to change their gambling laws.
The new Gambling Act has several main purposes. First, it sets boundaries that limit gambling activity in the country to a certain level. According to these limitations, the Danish Gambling Authority decides whether to grant licenses to new operators or not. A limited number of licenses are issued to land-based casino operators. The authority will not issue a new license until a spot becomes available.
Second, it establishes specific rules and regulations that aim to provide a fair and rational gambling market. These rules are also intended to prevent gambling from being used for criminal activities. All individuals or companies that violate the law in any way will be subject to criminal prosecution and revocation of their licenses.
The Act also introduces a range of precautionary measures that all casinos must implement to prevent young or vulnerable people from becoming addicted to gambling. Problem gambling affects thousands of people every year, and the Danish authorities support various projects that provide more information about this condition and help problem gamblers and their families escape this vicious cycle.
Regulation and Licensing
To regulate the gambling market, Denmark created the Danish Gambling Authority. The Authority’s main obligations include monitoring and regulating the market, granting and revoking licenses, auditing casinos, among others. It operates under the Danish Ministry of Taxation. The Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Tax Authority (SKAT) are responsible for collecting taxes and gambling duties.
Most types of gambling activities require licensing in Denmark. Such activities include lotteries, combination games, and betting. Lotteries are still monopolized and controlled by Danske Spil. There are two main types of licenses: an online gambling license and a land-based gambling license.
Online gambling licenses are further divided into two types: a betting license and an online casino license. Both licenses involve an application fee of DKK 279,500, but if they are combined the fee is DKK 391,300. Casinos with an annual GGR of less than DKK 1,000,000 may receive a “revenue-restricted” license. Once a casino has received its license, the owner must pay an annual fee that depends on the casino’s GGR.
If individuals wish to offer their services in the Danish gambling market, they must meet numerous requirements and complete several rigorous procedures. The criteria that persons must meet are the following:
- be at least 21 years old;
- not have a legal guardian;
- not have a criminal record;
- not be subject to insolvency proceedings.
If the individual is not a Danish citizen or a citizen of any EU/EEA country, they must have a Danish representative (a person living in Denmark or a company based in Denmark). The same applies to companies that would like to start their business in the Danish market. They must be either established in an EU/EEA country or have a Danish representative. Additionally, the company’s board of directors must consist of persons who have met the above-mentioned requirements.
Representatives must also be approved by the Danish Gambling Authority. After these requirements are met, applicants must provide financial statements and technical documents to ensure that they have the capacity to operate the casino according to all regulations imposed by the DGA.
If all these procedures are successful, the DGA can decide to grant a full or partial license or reject the application altogether. The application fee is non-refundable if the application is rejected.
Land-based gambling licenses have the same requirements described above. However, applying for such a license is not always possible. Currently, there are eight land-based casinos in Denmark. Individuals or companies can apply if one of the current licenses becomes available or if the Danish Gambling Authority makes a new license available.
The different kinds of licenses are valid for various periods of time. Land-based gambling licenses can be valid for up to 10 years, while an online gambling license can be issued for up to 5 years.
Players’ Security
As online casinos grow increasingly popular worldwide, many scammers have unfortunately entered the market as well. Finding a safe gaming site can be difficult, but our team has created a list of tips for Danish players to help minimize the risk of being scammed.
Valid License(s)
Responsible Gambling Policy
Security Measures
RNG and RTPPopular Software Providers
While many software providers operate in the gambling industry, only a few have achieved widespread popularity. Below is a list of some of the most renowned developers that Danish players can expect to encounter in online casinos:
Play’n GO
Betsoft
NetEnt
Quickspin
MicrogamingPopular Payment Methods
For casino players, convenient online payments are essential, especially for those who deposit several times a week or even daily. Naturally, gamblers look for a safe and reliable payment processor that credits funds to their casino balances quickly. Our team has collected the most convenient and popular options for Danish players and users worldwide. Here is our list:
Neteller
Skrill
Credit Cards
Nordea
ecoPayz
TrustlyPopular Bonuses
Every casino offers a variety of bonuses to attract new users, and players from Denmark are no exception. We have compiled a list of the most common bonus types that players can expect to receive. These include:
Welcome Bonus
No-Deposit Bonus
Reload Bonus
Free Spins
VIP ProgramTop 10 Online Casinos for Players from Denmark
Many renowned casinos gladly welcome Danish players. We have compiled a list of the best gambling operators to ensure an outstanding gaming experience and top-quality service. Here are our top picks:
888casino
LeoVegas Casino
PlayOJO Casino
Yako Casino
Slots Magic Casino
Fun Casino
King Billy Casino
SlotV Casino
Omni Slots Casino
BitStarz Casino