Online gambling among underage individuals in Denmark is pervasive, according to new research
The Danish government is taking a proactive stance against illegal online gambling, particularly unlicensed providers that offer higher bonuses and a wider range of games.
In June 2025, the Danish Gambling Authority secured court approval to block 178 offshore sites deemed illegal. This mass blocking, the largest since the Authority's establishment in 2012, targets sites attractive to Danes due to better bonuses and a wider range of games. The Authority collaborates with internet providers to enforce these blocks based on criteria such as Danish language use, local currency, or betting on Danish leagues.
In addition to legal blocking actions, the Danish Gambling Authority runs public awareness campaigns urging players to only use licensed operators that display the official Spillemyndigheden mark. They have updated marketing guidelines to clarify operators’ duty of disclosure about bonuses, promotions, and boosted odds, emphasizing transparency in advertisements, including social media and limited-space media like SMS and podcasts.
Despite these efforts, the Authority faces ongoing challenges from mirror sites that resurface with new addresses. To combat this, they are exploring content-based blocking beyond just web address blocking and considering payment blocking as a future tool. This approach has seen some success in Norway.
A study published by the Danish Gambling Authority on January 16, 2024, titled "Onlinespil i Danmark," reveals that 32,000 Danes aged 15 to 17 participate in online gambling, despite the age limit of 18 years. The study also shows that half of all players who have participated in illegal gambling at unlicensed providers did so deliberately. Higher bonuses were identified as the main incentive for participation in illegal gambling on unlicensed sites.
Interestingly, the survey shows that the vast majority of players in Denmark use licensed providers, with a share of 96.2 percent. Players who chose legal gambling primarily valued control, oversight, integrity, reliability, and the availability of Danish language.
In the past, the Danish Gambling Authority has blocked 49 illegal online providers in August 2023 and, since 2012, a total of 276 illegal providers have been blocked in Denmark. The Authority continues to collaborate with Statistics Denmark to monitor gambling behaviour among the Danish population.
It's worth noting that 15 percent of all 15 to 17-year-olds in Denmark played online gambling last year. This statistic underscores the importance of ongoing public awareness campaigns and strict regulations to protect minors from the risks associated with online gambling.
The player ID for stationary sports betting was introduced on October 1, 2023. This initiative is part of the Danish government's broader strategy to ensure a safe and regulated online gambling environment for its citizens.
[1] Danish Gambling Authority (2025). Blocking of 178 illegal gambling sites. Retrieved from https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/nyheder/2025/juni/mass-blockering-af-178-illegale-spilsteder [2] Danish Gambling Authority (2024). Onlinespil i Danmark. Retrieved from https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/nyheder/2024/januar/onlinespil-i-danmark [3] Danish Gambling Authority (2023). Blocking of 49 illegal gambling sites. Retrieved from https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/nyheder/2023/august/mass-blockering-af-49-illegale-spilsteder [4] Danish Gambling Authority (2023). New marketing guidelines for online gambling operators. Retrieved from https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/nyheder/2023/januar/nye-markedsføringsregler-for-online-spiloperatører [5] Danish Gambling Authority (2022). Public awareness campaign against illegal online gambling. Retrieved from https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/nyheder/2022/oktober/offentlig-oplysning-kampagne-mod-illegal-online-spil
- What are the crime-and-justice implications of the Danish Gambling Authority blocking 178 illegal gambling sites in June 2025, as revealed in the "Blocking of 178 illegal gambling sites" report by the Danish Gambling Authority?
- How do gambling-trends, particularly the attraction to offshore sites offering better bonuses and a wider range of casino-games, figure into the strategy of the Danish Gambling Authority in their efforts to combat illegal online casino-and-gambling activities, as noted in the "New marketing guidelines for online gambling operators" report by the Danish Gambling Authority?
- In the context of general-news, how do lotteries relate to the challenges faced by the Danish Gambling Authority in their ongoing endeavors to protect minors, as outlined in the "Public awareness campaign against illegal online gambling" report by the Danish Gambling Authority?
