Denmark Ends Long Running Gambling Monopoly

The Denmark Government recently announced that they have decided to deregulate gambling in the country. Denmark has seen a gaming monopoly run for sixty years in the country by Danske Spil which was state owned. The government will now begin to offer a regulated and partially liberalized gaming market.

One main reason the government has decided to get rid of the gaming monopoly is because the European Commission had filed a lawsuit against the monopoly accusing them of violating free market regulations. Denmark fought the suit by stating 1.6 billion of their revenues went to charitable and youth organizations. This did not change the opinion of the European Commission.

Foreign gaming companies will now be able to advertise in Denmark. Casino gaming as well as poker will be able to offering by the companies to the Denmark gambling market. Even though gaming operators will be able to offer their services in Denmark, they will have to pay a large licensing fee to gain access. However Lotto and scratch off ticket games will remain under Danske Spil.