Danish Gambling Authority Review
By Alex Smith Feb 28, 2024
Casinomeister's Verdict
As one of the most reputable gambling oversight authorities in the world, this agency oversees Danish-facing Casinos. I have not had any experience with the DGA – on the surface they seem pretty good. We have not had any players come to us complaining about them or their licensees, so they must be doing something right.
Seems to be on the right track - no complaints here...yet.
Pros
Tend to be quite strict in who they award licenses to
Unafraid to carry out investigations to root-out rogue operators and affiliates
Generally take a ‘player before operator’ approach, which enhances player-protection and minimizes the risk of rogue operators taking advantage of players
Cons
Impose high taxes on operators - meaning most operators tend to get licenses elsewhere
The Danish Gambling Authority is – unsurprisingly – the regulator in charge with regulating gambling in Denmark, and the authority is an independent government agency, which resides under the Danish Ministry of Taxation.
The authority receives a small amount of fund from the government itself – the majority of the funding comes directly from the licensees – and this independant structure has led to the authority being regarded as one of the most trustworthy and reputable in the world.
The Danish gambling industry is a pretty big industry these days, and while a wide variety of the industry is liberalized, the lottery games in the country are still run under a monopoly. It should also be noted that in the past the government of Denmark wasn’t too keen on gambling – both online gambling and gambling in land-based casinos – and it took quite a few years for their stance to change and match up with what we see from other online gambling regulators around the world.
It was largely thanks to pressure from the EU that forced the Danish government’s hand – and once this happened, the government passed legislation that allowed companies to apply for an online casino license, opening up the gambling market to companies all over the world and ensuring that the gambling market started to flourish in the country.
However, the DGA is also one of the world’s strictest regulators – and this has meant actually getting an online casino licence can be a fairly tough task for newer, smaller operators.
On this page, we’re going to be showing you exactly what the Danish Gambling Authority does – how they work – and how Danish gambling legislation affects all forms of gambling whether it’s casino games, online betting, or the action that takes place in land-based casinos.
About The Danish Gambling Authority
The authority is split into three main sections; these consist of Licensing, Policy and Finance, and Compliance – and there is also a separate division, which is responsible for regulating land-based gambling in the country.
The authority is based in Odense, Denmark, and they’ve built themselves a solid reputation – much like that of the UK’s Gambling Commission – due to their stance on responsible gambling, anti money-laundering, and underage gambling.
The authority has also shown itself to be unafraid to take action against rogue or illegal operators – and one of the most recent campaigns by the authority, has been to drive unethical affiliates out of the Danish market – something we’ve seen a number of regulators clamp down on, most notably the UKGC.
While the authority has come under some criticism for allowing Danske Spil to still maintain a monopoly over lotteries and various number games (like bingo, keno, and horse racing), the DGA has become a lot more transparent in recent years, and Danish legislation is continually changing to keep up with the evolution of online gambling as a whole.
Provisions of a License
Like most regulators, the Danish Gambling Authority requires all casinos to have stringent responsible gambling measures in place – ones that allow players who feel they’ve lost control of their gambling – to have access to tools and resources to limit, or stop their gambling.
The authority is also placing a greater emphasis on operators, with regards to financial regulation, and this is due to a number of factors, including terrorism financing, and money laundering.
The authority carries out yearly checks on their licensees, and they appear unafraid to issue fines, or revoke licenses if license conditions aren’t being met.
The Danish Gambling Authority offers two different types of online gambling license, and the first is known as an online betting license. As the name suggests, this license is designed for use at online sportsbooks; any event where a player is able to wager real money on a sports match outcome needs to have an online betting license.
The second type of license is the online casino license and this is required when a site wants to offer online casino games. Any company that wants to receive an online gambling license from the Danish Gambling Authority must enter into a program called SAFE – and this is essentially a data warehouse that the DGA can access at any time. There’s also some rigorous technical standards that any site wanting to enter the gambling market must follow.
ROFUS
ROFUS is a unique system that’s been put in place by the Danish Gambling Authority, and it works in a very similar way to the United Kingdom Gambling Authority’s system called GAMSTOP. It’s designed to allow players to enter into a self-exclusion agreement across all online casinos that hold an online gambling license from the Danish Gambling Authority, and this means that Danish players can instant self-exclude themselves from all online casinos in Denmark.
All online casinos that hold a valid online gambling license from the Danish Gambling Authority must enter into this scheme, and here’s what the online gambling regulator has to say about the program:
“You have the opportunity to take a 24-hour break from gambling or a temporary break of 1, 3, or 6 months. You also have the opportunity to self-exclude permanently. Temporary exclusions are automatically removed when the period expires on the exact time. If you have chosen to self-exclude permanently, you can request the Danish Gambling Authority to have your registration removed one year after your registration at the earliest. To have your registration in ROFUS removed, you must log into ww.rofus.nu using your NemID. The request must be confirmed by logging into www.rofus.nu no earlier than seven days and no later than 30 days after the request was made.
A permanent exclusion is by definition permanent. However, after 1 year at the earliest, it is possible to request the Danish Gambling Authority to have the registration removed. If you attempt to log in to your account during your self-exclusion period, your account will be closed. Any deposit on your account must be paid to you when the account is closed.
To have your registration in ROFUS removed, you must log into ww.rofus.nu using your NemID and request a removal of the exclusion. The request must be confirmed by logging into www.rofus.nu no earlier than seven days and no later than 30 days after the request was made.”
It’s really promising to see the Danish Gambling Authority implementing a scheme like this as it allows those who’re struggling with their levels of online gambling to immediately block access to their online gambling accounts.
Loot Boxes and Skins
“The Danish Gambling Authority is also interested in the, sometimes, blurred lines between video gaming and gambling. The past years, the Danish Gambling Authority has participated in a number national and international panel debates on e.g. loot boxes and the possibility to use the content of these as stakes in gambling activities.
Moreover, the Danish Gambling Authority participates in an international cooperation that focuses attention on the gray area between video gaming and gambling. For now, 17, primarily European countries, have signed a declaration of intent to look closer at the blurred lines that arise when elements from gambling are incorporated in video games. These may be elements such as loot boxes or skin betting. The games in question are often played by young people under the age of 18, which all signers agree is alarming. You can read the reports on illegal gambling below.”
This is the Danish Gambling Authority’s stance on loot boxes and skin betting – and they’re one of the first online betting regulators to really take into account the (potentially) problematic issue of loot boxes – an item that’s become a discussion point for many online gambling regulators around the world today.
However, as is the case with loot boxes – unlike with casino games and land-based casinos, which are a lot easier to regulate – when it comes to loot boxes, things are a lot blurry and less-clear. The Danish Gambling Authority states the following:
“Loot boxes are not necessarily covered by the Danish Gambling Act, and video games with loot boxes do not necessarily require a license.
A license from the Danish Gambling Authority is required if the following three criteria are met:
- It involves a stake (the skin can be converted into items of monetary value)
- There is an element of chance
- It is possible to win a prize (the skin can be converted into items of monetary value)
It is not possible to make a general assessment of whether the items that can be won in loot boxes are of monetary value. Consequently, an individual assessment is necessary to determine whether loot boxes are covered by the Danish Gambling Act.”
Playthrough Requirements
Like we’ve seen from a number of other online gambling regulators the Danish Gambling Authority’s stance on wagering requirements and casino bonuses has changed a lot in recent years – and bonuses are no longer allowed to be attached to a player’s real money. There’s also a number of other rules put in place by the Danish Gambling Authority that apply to all sites in the Danish gambling market – and perhaps the biggest of these is the fact that bonuses and promotions aren’t allowed to carry wagering requirements of more than 10X; this does, however, only apply when you’ve made a deposit, no-deposit bonuses aren’t covered by this rule. Here’s what the Danish Gambling Authority has to say about the matter:
“Pursuant to the gambling legislation, a playthrough requirement cannot exceed 10 times.
If you have gained any winnings in connection with your bonus, you must be aware that a playthrough requirement cannot be attached to your winnings, pursuant to the gambling legislation. All games that can be used to meet the playthrough requirement must contribute 100% towards the playthrough requirement. This means that a game cannot contribute only 50% towards the playthrough requirement.
Thus, it is important that you are aware of all the terms and conditions associated with an offer before you accept a sales promotion.”
The Danish Gambling Authority – under the Danish Gambling Act – also made headlines when they decided that if bonuses and promotions require the player to make a deposit, the value of the bonus must be equal to the amount of money that you deposit; this means that 50% matched deposit bonuses are no longer available, nor are 200% matched deposit bonuses. Only 100% matched deposit bonuses are able to be claimed and this goes for all bonuses, whether it’s at an online casino, an online bingo site or a poker room.
There’s a pretty neat little tool on the Danish Gambling Authority’s website which allows you to calculate the wagering requirements of a bonus and the amount of bonus you should be awarded – and this is pretty handy as it lets you see what online casino sites must follow when awarding bonuses and promotions.
Disputes and Player Complaints
The Danish Gambling Authority will review individual player complaints, but only as a matter of last resort – and if you find yourself encountering issues with one of the operators licensed by the authority, you’ll need to first, go through the casino’s internal complaints team – something that operators are required to have, as part of their license conditions.
If this doesn’t prove to be fruitful, then you can lodge a complaint with the authority – though, unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that complaints will be looked at in a particularly timely manner, and the nature of the complaint will generally dictate how quickly it’s investigated by the authority – if at all.
Thankfully, from what we’ve gathered, the Danish Gambling Authority has a very strong reputation when it comes to dealing with player complaints. They’re very attentive, and work really hard to make sure that any complaints players do submit are actually dealt with; a far-cry from the practices of some of the world’s other biggest regulators like the UKGC and the MGA.
FAQs
Does the DGA require operators to offer players responsible gambling tools?
Yes. Every online casino site is required – by law – to offer responsible gambling tools to its players. All online casinos in Denmark are obligated to offer you the chance to set up deposit limits.
Deposit limits control how much money you’re able to deposit into your casino account within a certain period of time. Once you’ve reached this threshold, you simply won’t be able to deposit any more money.
Another useful responsible gambling tool is the time-out and self-exclusion functions. The time-out function allows you to take a break from online gambling for between 24 hours and 6 weeks. The self-exclusion tool is a more long-term solution, completely blocking access to your account for between 6 months and 5 years.
If you’re ever worried about the amount of money you’re spending while gambling, reach out to the casino you’re playing at. They’ll (usually) be happy to provide you with information, help and guidance – and we also have a number of links here at Casinomeister which can help you out. Please Gamble Responsibly.
What are the best online casino games to play?
This is a subjective issue, and the best game for you may be very different from the best game for someone else. However, we can put you in the correct path, and if you want to maximize your winnings, we recommend checking out our video slots.
Slots provide a high degree of winning potential for a modest amount of risk. A single bet may easily win you tens of thousands of times your initial investment! They can, however, be quite temperamental.
Classic casino games like Roulette and Blackjack may be worth a look if you’re wanting to stretch your money. However, with these games, the single-spin win-potential is generally substantially lower, so keep that in mind.
Does the DGA regulate land-based casinos?
Yes; it’s not just online casino sites that the Danish Gambling Authority has jurisdiction over; they also regulate land-based casinos throughout Denmark. While the number of land-based casinos in Denmark isn’t as high as within other European nations there’s still a large number to be found, and you can actually find a list of these directly on the Danish Gambling Authority’s website. Land-based gambling in Denmark is usually restricted to major cities like Copenhagen; as of the time of writing most land-based casinos are in the major cities, although you may find smaller arcades scattered in towns and villages throughout.
When was the DGA formed?
The Danish Gambling Authority was first established back in 2012 – and it was formed as part of the Ministry of Taxation. As online gambling continued to increase in popularity the country’s government realized that they needed an online gambling regulator to take control of the online casino sites operating in Denmark – and that’s why the DGA was formed.
The primary responsibility of the Danish Gambling Authority is to ensure that the online gambling market is kept free of illegal activities, and that it operates in a regulated manner while also ensuring that players are kept safe while playing. The Danish Gambling Authority is notorious for being one of the strictest online gambling regulators in the world. It’s usually very hard to actually apply for a license, and high costs are involved along with lengthy and regular regulatory checks.
What is the combined license all about?
The Danish Gambling Authority is the first online gambling regulator to offer what’s known as a combined license – and this has been developed in conjunction with EveryMatrix – one of the world’s leading and most reputable online casino platforms. This is a complete all-in-one solution for online gambling operators so that they can get their online gambling license from the Danish Gambling Authority and their online casino software all in one go.
While it hasn’t perhaps, yet, seen the levels of popularity and success that some in the Danish Gambling Authority had hoped for, it’s quite an interesting development – and it’s likely that we’ll see other online gambling regulators following suit in the years to come.
Why do many online casino sites choose not to get a DGA license?
The Danish Gambling Authority is known for being one of the strictest online gambling regulators in the world. Even applying for an online casino license from them is no easy feat – and large application fees, stringent regulatory checks and harsh rules have essentially pushed many companies out of the Danish market altogether.
There’s also the issue with monopolization in Denmark; the government still has significant control over much of the gambling market in the country (including land-based casinos and lotteries), and this means that, while the online casino industry is a bit different, many companies simply choose not to even bother applying for a license in the first place.
What’s more, the Danish Gambling Authority doesn’t allow online gambling operators to offer scratchcard, bingo games or lotties – as these are all controlled by the state. There’s also significant tax rates imposed on companies who hold a Danish Gambling Authority license.
Can Danish players gamble at non-Danish Gambling Authority-licensed casinos?
Yes; while online gambling companies that are based in Denmark offering their services to Danish players do need to hold an online gambling license from the Danish Gambling Authority, those who’re playing at sites located outside of Denmark – provided they’re in the European Union – do not need to worry about getting into any trouble. It’s perfectly legal for you to play at these sites if you want – although you do need to make sure that they’re registered in the EU, otherwise you may be subject to paying tax.
Where can I find the top Danish Gambling Authority-licensed sites?
If you’re looking for safe, reputable and trustworthy online casinos that hold a license from the Danish Gambling Authority then we at Casinomeister have you covered. On this page you’ll be able to see a breakdown of all of the top online casino sites that hold a valid online gaming license from the Danish Gambling Authority, and rest assured that if you choose to play at any of these sites you’ll be in safe hands.
Who were the first companies to receive a Danish Gambling Authority license?
In 2012 when the EU forced Denmark’s hand to begin decreasing its monopoly on the gambling industry in the country it was, at first, major bookmaker names like Ladbrokes and Bet365 that entered the Danish gambling market; indeed, both of these companies were the first names to receive an online gambling license from the Danish Gambling Authority, although at first it was just a sports betting license. Now, both companies have both sports betting and online casino licenses, so they can offer casino table games, video slots and sports markets.
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