Denmark Gambling Laws: Full Insight and Analysis
Online and land-based gambling in Denmark is legal and fully regulated. The country is open to different wagering activities. Some of these include lotteries, on-ground casino games, online gambling, sports betting, and more. We will tell you more about the Denmark gambling laws in the paragraphs below.
What Is Legal Under the Denmark Gambling Laws?
Denmark is one of the European countries with the best developed gambling legislations. Casino games and sports betting are fully regulated. The Denmark gambling laws are very strict.
The reason is that they aim to protect players and limit any harmful effects connected to gambling addiction. The state also works hard to prevent the development of any criminal activities around gambling.
The primary legislation that governs gambling in Denmark is the Danish Act on Gambling, also referred to as the „Danish Gambling Act.” The state issues two types of gambling licences – licences for online gambling and licences for land-based gambling.
What Is Gambling According to Danish Law?
Denmark has a very clear definition on what activities constitute gambling. Generally, the state recognises three main gategories of gambling. These are:
- The so-called „combination games,” where your opportunity to win depends on a combination of skill and luck. Such gambling formats include popular games like poker and blackjack, which you can play in land-based halls and Danish online casinos alike.
- Betting – like sports betting – where your chance to win is dependent on the outcome of a certain event or activity.
- Lotteries and lottery-like games, where your chance to win is based entirely on your good fortune.
How Does Danish Law Regulate Gambling?
Denmark’s primary piece of gambling legislation is the Danish Act on Gambling. The Gambling Act is used to govern all kinds of gambling games within the country.
Gambling games in Denmark are defined using the criteria listed in the above section of this article. The main piece of legislation is also supplemented by a variety of executive orders.
For instance, the marketing of gambling games in Denmark is subjected to the Danish Marketing Practices Act. The latter is a supplement to the Gambling Act’s marketing provisions.
Another example is the additional financial regulation that is applied to providing financial services for gambling activities. They may also be controlled by the Danish online gambling association. These may include payment solutions, e-money, etc.
In addition, the gambling laws in Denmark are very strict on protecting players. There are various provisions that govern the information requirements for players. Player payments are also regulated, including the right to withdraw from a transaction.
As you can see, Denmark has an extremely well developed gambling legislative framework. Gambling providers also need to have their games certified in accordance with the state’s certification program.
What Types of Gambling Licences Does Denmark Issue?
Any service that offers gambling games to players from Denmark, where a stake is required to be paid for the player to participate, is subject to licensing on behalf of the Danish Gambling Authority (DGA).
The DGA offers two types of gambling licences: Online gambling and land-based gambling licences. Depending on the licence type, these permits may differ in duration. For instance, the licence to provide „revenue-restricted” online gambling is limited to one year only.
Therefore, the best DK blackjack casino sites needs to renew their licences annualy. The regular licence to offer online gambling may be issued for a period of up to five years.
Licences for land-based gambling services have significantly longer duration. For example, the land-based casino licence is granted for a period of up to 10 years.
The licence for limited land-based gaming machines (physical slots, blackjack, video poker, etc.) is issued individually, and its duration varies. Some of these licences can be indefinite.
Prohibited Games in Denmark
Generally, the Denmark gambling laws are quite relaxed when it comes to prohibited products. One exception is the lottery, which is state-owned. Because there is a monopoly, private gambling providers are not allowed to offer online lotteries.
Another type of gambling products that are prohibited in Denmark are the pyramid scheme games. Online casino payments also face certain restrictions.
For instance, cash deposits to online gambling accounts are illegal. So are fiat and digital money transfers between online gambling accounts.
How Does Denmark Penalise Illegal Gambling?
While Denmark has a lenient approach towards gambling, the state also penalises harshly the offering of and participation in illegal gambling activities.
According to the Danish gambling laws, sanctions vary from a warning to up to two years in prison. Most commonly, however, the authorities impose fines as well as orders to correct the specific offence.
While the DGA can revoke an operator’s gambling licence when illegal activity is in place, it does not hold the power to impose fines. When a gambling business is liable for a fine, the DGA has to hand over the matter to the Danish police.
More precisely, the DGA issues a notice, upon which the police has to act. Anyone who is assisting in the provision of an illegal gambling activity is also held responsible under the law.
Danish Gambling Laws: FAQ
We hope you have found this article on the Danish gambling laws helpful and informative. Our goal is to support you in observing the full picture of the local legislative landscape.
Regardless if you are a player or a gambling business owner, this information is designed to help you make the best of your gambling experience. You can learn more in the FAQ section below.
1️⃣ What Is Gambling According to the Danish Law?
The definition of gambling games is very clear according to the Danish gambling laws. Gambling products are divided into three main categories: lotteries, combination games, and betting. This division is based on how the outcome takes place and whether the specific type of game is entirely chance-based or involves skill as well.
2️⃣ How Is Gambling Regulated in Denmark?
Under the Danish gambling laws, the main body that regulates gambling is called the Danish Gambling Authority (DGA). The DGA can grant and revoke gambling licences but cannot impose fines. The latter is done by the Danish police. The main piece of legislation that governs gambling activities within the country is the Danish Gambling Act and its supplements.
3️⃣ What Gambling Licences Exist in Denmark?
The Danish state has accepted two types of DK gambling licences. These include the licence for online gambling and the licence for land-based gambling. The body that can issue and revoke gambling licences is the DGA. Each type of licence has a particular duration period.
4️⃣Are There Gambling Games That Are Not Allowed in Denmark?
Almost all types of games in Denmark are allowed. The only type of prohibited gambling games include pyramid scheme games and privately offered lottery games. The reason for the latter is that lottery in Denmark is state-owned, so private operators are not allowed to provide online lottery games.
5️⃣ How Does Denmark Punish Illegal Gambling?
Denmark has a sound system in place to punish illegal gambling activities. The imposed penalties on gambling in Denmark may include fines and up to two years in prison. Revoking of gambling licences is also a frequent measure. The DGA has the power to revoke gambling licences, whereas the Danish police is the authority that imposes the fines.