The Danish gambling regulator, known as Spillemyndigheden, has announced significant changes in the country’s gambling framework, primarily through the introduction of supplier licences over the past year. These developments come as Denmark works on legislative measures to impose new advertising restrictions and expand regulated game types. As 2025 concludes, Anders Dorph, the director of Spillemyndigheden and chair of the Gambling Regulators’ European Forum (GREF), outlined these changes from a regulatory and market perspective in a recent discussion.
In 2025, Denmark’s Parliament reached a political consensus aimed at curbing problem gambling and providing enhanced protections for minors. This agreement includes a whistle-to-whistle ban on gambling advertisements during broadcasted sports events and restrictions on marketing near educational institutions. There is also a push to regulate social media and influencer involvement in gambling promotions. These changes are part of a broader strategy to address illegal gambling activities, including granting authorities the power to block websites promoting unauthorized gambling operations and expanding the variety of permitted games, such as dice games, to enhance market competitiveness.
The introduction of supplier licences in Denmark has marked a pivotal shift in regulatory practices. Under previous regulations, issues affecting multiple operators had to be addressed individually with each operator. The supplier licences now allow regulators to directly engage with game suppliers, streamlining problem resolution and fostering improved compliance across the industry. This new licensing regime has facilitated a more collaborative relationship between regulators and suppliers, enhancing the overall regulatory framework.
Dorph emphasized that data plays a crucial role in detecting and addressing match-fixing in sports. In response, Denmark has revised its data reporting requirements for operators, enabling more efficient investigations by allowing regulators access to relevant data across all license holders. The strategy involves lessening the reporting burden on operators while ensuring data harmonization for effective use in combating match-fixing. Future goals include developing systems capable of identifying data anomalies and generating automatic reports, necessitating continuous effort and international cooperation.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Danish Gambling Authority’s primary objectives will remain player protection and combatting illegal gambling markets. These goals align with broader challenges faced across Europe. The comprehensive political agreement reached in 2025 is set to be translated into specific legislation, which the authority will implement in the coming year. This legislative transformation will remain a focal point for the Danish regulator, as it seeks to adapt its framework to the evolving gambling landscape.
Continuing to address match-fixing is another priority, given its global nature. Match-fixers can operate internationally, targeting sports events in different regions, which underscores the necessity for global cooperation. Denmark hosts a national platform for such efforts and values its participation in the Group of Copenhagen, a collaborative network focused on operational cooperation between national platforms.
The implementation timeline for these initiatives and legislative changes is expected to unfold throughout 2026, with the Danish Gambling Authority committed to ensuring effective enforcement and adapting to market responses. As the regulatory landscape in Denmark evolves, these measures aim to balance market competitiveness with responsible gambling practices and robust consumer protection mechanisms.
