Online Gambling in Denmark
Background
Until 2010, the regulated Danish online gambling market was controlled by state monopoly operator Danske Spil for lotteries and sports betting. But this protectionist approach was frowned by the European Commission (EC).
In 2007 Denmark received a reasoned opinion from the EC finding that its ban on foreign operators (to the exception of the local monopoly operator) was in breach of EU free trade provisions. It was urged to change this approach or face legal proceedings before the European Court of Justice.
Also recognising the growth and potential of an open and regulated online gambling sector the government moved to liberalise the market, leading to enactment of the Danish Gambling Act in June 2010. Implementation of the Act was delayed until after review and approval by the EC. This came September 2011 when it was announced by the EC to be in line with EU provisions.
The Act came into effect on January 1, 2012, conferring authority on the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) to award licenses to foreign online gambling operators from that date. Licenses allow for the provision of a broad range of gambling products including sports betting, casino games, poker and bingo. All must be served via a “.dk” domain and are subject to tax of 20% of gross gaming revenue from Danish players.
Among the first round of online casinos to be awarded a Danish online gambling license was Party Casino (2011). A long list well known international brands have since launched their Danish licensed operations.
There have also been significant developments specific to live dealer games in the Danish market. Multiple live games providers (lead by Evolution) now offer tables tailored to the local market with Danish speaking dealers.
Dansk Roulette, with dealers chatting in Danish.
Major Operators
The Danish online gambling market features a mix of domestic and very well known international operators, all of whom are licensed by the Danish Gambling Authority. Some of the bigger names include:
- Danske Spil: The former state monopoly, Danske Spil, continues to be a major player in the Danish market, offering a wide range of betting and lottery products both online and offline.
- Bet365: A global leader in online gambling, Bet365 offers sports betting, casino games, and poker to Danish players under a license from the Danish Gambling Authority.
- Unibet: Part of the Kindred Group, Unibet provides sports betting, casino games, and poker in Denmark. It is a well-established and popular choice among Danish gamblers.
- Mr Green: An international online casino operator and part of the Evoke group (888 Holdings), Mr Green offers a variety of casino games and sports betting options to Danish players under a local license.
- LeoVegas: Known for its strong mobile platform, LeoVegas offers online casino games, live casino, and sports betting.
Best live casinos for Danish players
The below live dealer casinos offer Euro or Danish Krone (DKK) banking options as well as Dansk language website and support capabilities. All also offer Dansk dealer tables.
