Denmark To End Gaming Monopoly

In Denmark, the Government has announced plans to end the 60-year gaming monopoly held by State-owned organisation Danske Spil and implement a partial and regulated liberalisation of the market.

The Government revealed last week that its decision would afford better protections to players and guarantee future revenues for numerous social causes.

According to a report from newspaper Jyllands-Posten, only the Lottery and scratch off ticket games will continue under the sole jurisdiction of Danske Spil while foreign gaming companies will be able to advertise their services in the Scandinavian nation for the first time.

However, companies will be required to pay a large licensing fee to the State in order to gain access. In addition, the Government is also set to include measures to prevent problem gambling.

Danske Spil has welcomed the move because it will reduce the amount it must pays back to the State, which currently stands at 30 percent.

'It will be nice to get some clarity on the issue after so many years of uncertainty,' Hans Christian Madsen, Managing Director for Danske Spil, told The Copenhagen Post newspaper.

'We'll also be able to offer casino gambling and poker now, which we couldn't do before.”

Jyllands-Posten revealed that Danes spent nearly $1.93 billion on gaming last year with State profits of over $493 million. Around $282 million of that went towards youth and charitable organisations.

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