According to the Ministry of Taxation, around 500,000 Danes “have some degree of gambling problems.” Gambling has become “an integral part of everyday life for many people” – including children who gamble during school hours.
In response, Minister Rasmus Stoklund has called on the Danish Parliament to begin negotiations on revising the country’s regulatory framework.
“Far too many Danes have problems with gambling, and some are affected by outright gambling addiction,” he said.
“This can have very serious consequences for those who gamble, but also for their families, friends and relationships with those around them. It is a growing problem that we must now find good political solutions together.”
Earlier this year, the Danish Gambling Authority reported that total gambling expenditure in 2024 reached DKK 11bn (£1.26bn), up 5.6% from the previous year. Nearly half of the DKK 7.27bn gross gaming revenue (GGR) generated in 2024 came from online casinos. Gaming machines were the only major vertical to record a year-on-year decline.
Laying out his plans, Stoklund stressed that negotiations should focus on gambling marketing, strengthening prevention, and providing support to Danes suffering from gambling addiction. He also proposed a ban on gambling advertising during breaks in sports broadcasts.
“The marketing culture has become too aggressive. We all experience that when we watch a football match on TV, for example,” explained Stoklund.
According to Spillemyndigheden, Denmark’s gaming regulator, over 60,000 people have signed up to ROFUS, the country’s self-exclusion register.
However, Stoklund warned that more needs to be done to ensure prevention and treatment are high on the agenda during the negotiations.
He said: “Prevention is absolutely central to ensuring that fewer Danes develop gambling problems. I am also concerned that we ensure effective and targeted tools for those who already have problems with gambling. Therefore, I propose that we strengthen the treatment of gambling addiction with more funds and better conditions for treatment centres.”
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