Denmark regulator opens applications for land-based bingo licences

Spillemyndigheden, the gambling regulator in Denmark, yesterday (21 November) opened the licence application process to offer land-based bingo in the country.

Companies that apply for a licence to offer land-based bingo in Denmark will be guaranteed authorisation from 1 January 2025 onwards, as long as their applications are filled in correctly and all relevant information is supplied.

Should Spillemyndigheden require additional information, the regulator can issue special permits with certain conditions while the remaining detail is submitted.

To assist operations with applications, Spillemyndigheden will hold a meeting on 5 December to provide information on the new rules for offering land-based bingo in Denmark.

The requirements to offer land-based bingo

The licence to offer land-based bingo will last for up to five years at a time. There are, however, a number of requirements for operators to adhere to.

The applicant company must submit a form completed by all members of its executive board and board members, all stakeholders in a partnership and a representative appointed in Denmark if the business is not domiciled in a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) nation.

Companies must also submit criminal records and debt declarations so Spillemyndigheden can assess there’s no imminent danger of abuse. Companies can have no debt to the public sector if they wish to offer licensed land-based bingo.

After a company has received a licence, should a member of the business be convicted of a criminal offence with a risk of imminent abuse of working in gambling, Spillemyndigheden can order the person in question to resign.

Each application will cost DKK20,000 (£2,231/€2,682/$2,789), while renewal will cost DKK10,000.

Once an operator has gained a licence, they must pay an annual fee. This will depend on their gross gaming income over a year. The fee rates are as follows:

Annual feeGross gambling income in 2024DKK15,000DKK20 million

Denmark gambling revenue on the slide

In November, Spillemyndigheden released data showing gambling revenue in Denmark was 2.8% lower year-on-year in September, falling to DKK533 million. It was also 3.2% down on August’s total.

The overall decrease was in spite of online casino gaming, the primary source of revenue in Denmark, reaching DKK288 million in September. This is 12.1% up year-on-year.

Sports betting revenue plummeted 21.7% to DKK144 million when compared to the same month in 2023.