Is Online Gambling Legal In Denmark

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Online betting in Denmark is currently fully legalised and regulated within the country. Great news for anyone looking to open an account with a Danish betting site and start placing bets.

The Danish government has agreed to increase online gaming taxes from 20% to 28% from January 2021. The proposals were put forward in the government’s 2020 financial budget, with the aim of raising DKK 150m (£17.1m), or DKK 20m per year. Morten Ronde, CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association, warned the online market could. The 2012 Betting Law governs most Cypriot gambling. Slot and other terminal-based gaming is permitted, up to a maximum of 50 machines, but under 2015’s Casino Law land-based table games are allowed at the single casino, the Melco Cyprus Resort, whose completion is expected in 2019. Sportsbetting is the only form of gambling allowed online. Aside from that, while it is often clear that general prohibitions against gambling also include online poker, it’s not crystal clear here in South Carolina, although it would seem quite a stretch to have to argue that online poker is not played with cards and is instead played with something else, graphics on a screen perhaps.

Below you’ll find the key facts you need to know about gambling in Denmark, a list of recommended Denmark betting sites and all the countries laws and legislation’s listed as well.

Licenced & Best Danish Betting Sites

Denmark’s online gambling market is also growing as the years go. Even though the market is partially freed up or liberalized, it has great provisions for an array of online gaming activities including betting and lotteries.

The following is a list of the best betting sites for residents of Denmark:

T&C’s apply – 18+.
Is Online Gambling Legal In Denmark
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T&C’s apply – 18+.

Key Facts: Online Gambling In Denmark

  • All forms of gambling are legal including online.
  • Private companies welcome to provide services.
  • Horse racing, greyhounds and pigeon racing state owned.
  • Overseas providers legal with a license.
  • No players ever punished or prosecuted for using overseas providers.

Gambling Law & Legislation

Today, the clear and definitive Danish legislation related to gambling and particularly online gambling is held up by many as an example of how things should be done. The following timeline describes how the modern day situation developed:

1948 – Danske Spil Established

In 1948, a company called Danske Spil was established and would be 80% owned by the Danish state. For decades, this company had a complete monopoly over all forms of gambling in Denmark, with any activities provided by other organisations deemed illegal.

2008 – Monopoly Challenged

Having existed for a total of six decades, Danske Spil’s monopoly was finally challenged in 2008 by the European Court of Justice. This challenge led the Danish government to finally begin the process of opening up the gambling industry in the country to private providers both at home and overseas.

2010 – Gambling Act Passed

It was in 2010 that new legislation in the form of the Gambling Act was passed by the Danish parliament. This legislation was delayed in coming into force, however, due to a challenge from existing land based casinos and gambling establishments in Denmark. They were unhappy that the act allowed online providers to be taxed at a lower rate than land based premises and a legal wrangle ensued.

Gambling

2012 – Gambling Act Comes into Force

The European Commission eventually ruled that the Danish parliament’s plan for two-tier taxation was lawful.

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This led to the Gambling Act eventually coming into force on January 1st 2012 and to the Spyllemindigheden beginning to provide licences to a variety of new organisations.

2013 – Licences Extended

The initial gambling licences granted to new providers only lasted for 12 months and came up for review in January 2013. At this time, the Spyllemindigheden extended all of the 25 licences which it had initially granted for an additional five years.

2015 – New Modifications

In May 2015, the European Commission allowed the Danish authorities to make some minor modifications to their gambling legislation. The most notable of these was the full regulation of daily fantasy sports which may well prove to be the biggest growth area in gambling over the coming years.

Tax On Winnings?

As is the case in the vast majority of countries with legalised and regulated gambling industries, the taxes levied upon the industry in Denmark are aimed at providers and not at punters.

Tax rates vary according to whether the provider is land based or online and to which type of gambling service they provide to customers. The exact rates are not too important, however, as the main takeaway is that Danish punters do not have to pay any tax on their winnings.

Deposit Methods: What Works?

Denmark’s attitude toward gambling is a very liberal and forward-thinking one, and as such there is no need for punters to take any legal issues into account when selecting their favoured deposit method.

As such, it makes sense in most cases for customers to deposit using their debit or credit cards as these methods are amongst the most convenient and secure around. Alternatively, e-wallet services such as Skrill or PayPal are also equally valid options.

1. An overview of the Danish Gaming Act

The bill was part of an agreement between the Government (at that time it consisted of the Left political party and the Conservative People's Party) and the remaining political parties. During the negotiation of the bill, the Minister of Culture proposed introducing a law concerning the distribution of profits from gambling. The Minister of Finance also proposed a law concerning Danske Spil A/S. These proposals are all combined within the current gambling law.

The aim of the law is to undertake partial liberalization and modernization of the Danish gaming market. This means that licenses for the provision of betting and online casino can be achieved with a more permissive approach. The law also aims at maintaining the consumption of gaming services at a moderate level; to protect young people and other vulnerable persons from being exploited through gaming or developing a gaming addiction; to protect players by ensuring that gaming is provided in a fair, responsible and transparent manner; to ensure public order; and to prevent gaming as a means to support crime.

There must be a clear distinction between the monopolized games and the liberalized games, in order to secure the continuous provision of lottery by Danske Spil, Klasselotteriet and non-profit organizations. In this way, betting and online casino can and will be provided in a controlled and free competitive market by commercial game providers who have achieved the adequate Danish gaming provision license. However, the provision of dog or horseracing is solely reserved for Danske Spil. These races may only be organized as pool betting races.

The Danish gambling legislation unifies and simplifies the rules for the regulation and supervision of games under the authority of the Danish Ministry of Taxation. The Danish Gambling Authority, which is placed within the Danish Ministry of Taxation, is responsible for the administration and granting of licenses as well as the monitoring of the Danish gaming Market. The bill establishes safeguards against illegal game providers including preventive measures such as: payment blockage; Internet disruption; and maintaining the current ban on advertising.

The bill was adopted on 4 June 2010. The Danish Gaming Law entered into force on 1 January 2012.

1.1. Advertising

The Danish rules regarding advertising of gaming (land-based and online) are divided into two categories:

1.the general advertising rules that apply to all marketing

2.a specific set of rules that apply to gaming alone

The Danish marketing legislation is contained in the Danish Marketing Practices Law.

The provision of games is considered a sensitive area where aggressive marketing of gaming products may result in excessive consumption and (increased) dependency on gaming. With this in mind, it has therefore been necessary to impose limits on the marketing of games that go beyond the limits imposed by the provisions of the Danish Marketing Practices Law.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Denmark

The Danish Gambling Authority has published a guide on the marketing of bonus offers by the provision of betting and online casino.

The Danish Gambling Authority has also published a guide in relation to the use of sales promotion measures when providing betting and online casino.

Advertising illegal gaming is considered a criminal act under Danish law and is punishable by fine or imprisonment. This applies to all parties who direct marketing towards the Danish market.

1.2. Amendments

There have only been minor amendments to the law since the legislation and the guidelines were published. These amendments have mainly been focused on the interpretation of the legislation and guidelines.

In order to register on a licence holder’s gaming site, a player has to use a player verification system based on the OCES-standard encryption, more specifically “NemID”. Furthermore, the player needs to use the NemID to log in every time the player intends to play.

In March 2014, the Danish Gambling Authority issued a public consultation regarding new and updated certification and technical documents. This includes whether changes should be made in relation to the requirement for using NemID and whether a more situational access could be used without compromising safety. The Danish Gambling Authority also considered whether an exemption should be made form the requirement to use NemID in case of a breakdown of said encryption.

In September 2014, the Danish Gambling Authority announced that the exemption regarding the platforms that in the future would support the means of digital signature vested in the executive orders will lapse after the 31st of December 2014.

DanID – Supplier of the NemID-solution – has developed a new JavaScript solution for NemID, which functions on most mobile units. This means that the licence holders will have to implement and migrate to the new JavaScript solution before the 31st of December 2014.

From the 1st of January 2015 all logins, regardless of the platform, must be supported by the means of a digital signature.

In December 2014, the Danish Gambling Authority announced that the minister of taxation has signed the proposed changes to the executive orders on online casino and online betting. This means that the licence holders’ dispensations to not enforce NemID, on platforms that wasn’t supportive of NemID earlier, remained at play. It also meant that the licence holders could continuously offer games via mobile units and tablets without logging in via NemID.

The changes to the executive orders were published in Lovtidende at the end of the year 2014 and came in to force by the 1st of January 2015.