Danish Gambling Authority
- Founded
- 2000-01-01 in Copenhagen, Denmark
- Headquarters
- Copenhagen, Denmark
The Danish Gambling Authority (DGA), known in Danish as Spillemyndigheden, is the independent government agency responsible for regulating all gambling activities in Denmark. Established in 2000 under the Danish Ministry of Taxation, the DGA oversees a market that includes online and land-based casinos, sports betting, gaming machines, bingo, and lotteries. Its core mission is to ensure a fair, transparent, and safe gambling environment through licensing, supervision, and enforcement. The agency became an independent executive authority with its own director in 2012, following the enactment of the comprehensive Danish Gambling Act. Beyond issuing licenses to operators, the DGA actively combats illegal gambling, protects vulnerable players through initiatives such as the national self-exclusion register (ROFUS) and the StopSpillet helpline, and cooperates internationally with fellow regulators to address cross-border issues like match-fixing and money laundering. With a data-driven approach to market oversight, the DGA publishes regular revenue statistics and conducts studies to inform policy. Its regulatory framework is considered among the most effective in Europe, balancing consumer protection with a competitive licensing environment for operators.
Detailed Review
The Danish Gambling Authority was originally established in 2000 to oversee gaming machines and land-based casinos, as well as to distribute licenses for charitable lotteries and bingo events. Its role expanded dramatically on 1 January 2012, when the current Danish Gambling Act came into force, opening the market to licensed online casino and betting operators for the first time. This move aimed to channel players away from unregulated offshore sites while ensuring strong consumer protections. The DGA became an independent executive authority under the Ministry of Taxation, headed by a director.
The agency’s responsibilities cover the full spectrum of gambling regulation. It issues licenses for online casino, online betting, land-based betting, land-based casinos, gaming machines in arcades and restaurants, bingo, and horse/greyhound racing. Lotteries remain a state monopoly operated by Danske Lotteri Spil A/S, but are still supervised by the DGA. Licensed operators must comply with strict anti-money laundering (AML) rules, responsible gambling requirements, and a technical certification programme that was updated effective 1 January 2025. The DGA also operates the Register of Voluntary Exclusion (ROFUS), which allows players to block themselves from all licensed online gambling, and runs the StopSpillet national problem gambling helpline.
In recent years, the DGA has strengthened its enforcement powers. In 2024, amendments to the Gambling Act gave the agency more response options, including the ability to impose administrative fines for regulatory breaches. The DGA also introduced new requirements for mandatory reporting of suspicious betting data to combat match-fixing, leveraging unique player identification and real-time market monitoring. Internationally, the DGA has cooperation agreements with regulators such as the UK Gambling Commission and is an active member of the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF), where its director, Anders Dorph, serves as Vice-chair. Looking ahead, Denmark is set to reform gambling advertising rules by 2027, with new restrictions expected to come into force from 2026. The DGA remains a key player in shaping a regulated market that prioritises player safety, market integrity, and responsible growth.
Key Products
Operator Licences
Licences for online casino, online betting, land-based casinos, gaming machines, lotteries, bingo, and race betting.
Game Certification Programme
Mandatory testing and certification of games and systems for licensed operators, updated January 2025.
Regulatory Supervision & Enforcement
Market monitoring, site blocking (334 sites blocked in 2025), and anti-money laundering oversight.
Player Protection Tools
National self-exclusion register (ROFUS), responsible gambling guidelines, advertising restrictions, and public education campaigns.
Labelling Scheme
A seal for licensed operators to help consumers identify legal gambling sites.
International Cooperation
Data sharing and joint enforcement with other gambling authorities.
Licensing & Supervision
Issuing licences for online casino, sports betting, land‑based bingo, and horse/greyhound racing; ongoing compliance monitoring of licensed operators.
ROFUS (Register of Excluded Players)
Denmark’s national self‑exclusion database allowing players to block themselves from all licensed gambling.
Illegal Gambling Enforcement
Court‑ordered website blocking, cooperation with ISPs and platforms (Google Play) to remove illegal gambling apps.
Education & Prevention
School and sports club presentations on gambling risks; public awareness campaigns.
Market Research
Publication of annual reports and studies on gambling behaviour and the black market.
Licensing Framework
Issues licenses for online casino, online betting, land-based betting, land-based casinos, gaming machines, bingo, and horse/greyhound racing. Each license category has specific requirements under the Danish Gambling Act and associated Executive Orders.
Certification Programme
A mandatory technical certification programme for all licensed games (online and land-based). Updated effective 1 January 2025, it ensures game integrity, fairness, and compliance with Danish regulations.
ROFUS
The Register of Voluntary Exclusion is a national self-exclusion database that allows players to block themselves from all licensed online gambling in Denmark for a chosen period. Operators must check ROFUS before accepting bets.
StopSpillet Helpline
A free, confidential helpline offering support and counselling for problem gamblers and their families.
Market Supervision & Data Reporting
Monitors the market in real-time using betting data and mandatory operator reporting. Publishes monthly and annual revenue statistics (e.g., August 2025 data showed a 25.1% revenue increase year-on-year).
Anti-Money Laundering Oversight
Supervises compliance with AML regulations, including a dedicated Money Laundering Secretariat and reporting obligations for operators.
Key Persons
Anders DorphDirector
- Jeanette Harder von Eyben
Speaker
Notable past members
- Birgitte Sand — Director (Head of the Danish Gambling Authority)