Spillemyndigheden to tackle illegal gambling marketing

Denmark’s gambling authority, Spillemyndigheden, has entered into a new agreement with the country’s Consumer Ombudsman, Forbrugerombudsmanden, and its gambling advertising board, Spilreklamenævnet, to better coordinate efforts against illegal gambling marketing.

In a statement by Forbrugerombudsmanden, the three parties announced their plan to work together to prevent duplication of efforts and improve cooperation when addressing illegal gambling marketing in Denmark.

Operationally, if a gambling company fails to comply with Spilreklamenævnet’s criticism or if rules are broken, the advertising board will forward the cases to the ombudsman or the gambling authority. Additionally, Forbrugerombudsmanden and Spillemyndigheden can direct complainants to the advertising board if a company violates the industry’s code of conduct but not rules overseen by the ombudsman or the gambling authority.

Torben Jensen, Consumer Ombudsman, remarked:

Our new cooperation agreement with the Gambling Authority and the Gambling Advertising Board strengthens our supervision of gambling companies’ marketing. The agreement involves better internal communication, ensures coordination and prevents duplication of work, which benefits consumers.

Forbrugerombudsmanden oversees a gambling company’s compliance with the Marketing Practices Act and other consumer protection rules, while Spillemyndigheden supervises compliance with the marketing rules in section 36(1) of the Gambling Act and the rules on sales promotion measures in relevant executive orders on gambling.

Spilreklamenævnet handles complaints about gambling marketing that breach the industry’s code of conduct, which is designed to protect vulnerable groups and children, as well as to limit gambling addiction.

The three parties will hold annual meetings and regularly update each other on relevant cases.