Denmark’s Minister of Taxation, Rasmus Stoklund, has laid bare the extent of problem gambling in the country.
The Ministry warned approximately 500,000 Danes “have some degree of gambling problems”, and said that gambling has become “an integral part of everyday life for many people” – including children who gamble during school hours.
As a result, Stoklund has called on the parties in the Danish Parliament to enter negotiations over the country’s regulatory framework.
“Far too many Danes have problems with gambling, and some are affected by outright gambling addiction,” he said.
“This can have very serious consequences for those who gamble, but also for their families, friends and relationships with those around them. It is a growing problem that we must now find good political solutions together.”
The Danish Government is led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and comprises a coalition of the Social Democrats, the Liberal Party and the Moderates.
Earlier this year, the Danish Gambling Authority revealed that total expenditure in 2024 reached DKK 11bn (£1.26bn), marking a 5.6% increase on the previous year.
Online casino accounted for nearly half of the DKK 7.27bn in GGR reported for 2024. Gaming machines were the only major vertical to record a year-on-year decline.
Laying out his plans, Stoklund urged negotiations to centre around gambling marketing, strengthened prevention and helping Danes with gambling addiction.
“The marketing culture has become too aggressive. We all experience that when we watch a football match on TV, for example,” explained Stoklund.
Among the Minister’s proposals is a ‘whistle-to-whistle’ ban on gambling advertising during breaks in sports broadcasts.
According to Spillemyndigheden, Denmark’s gaming regulator, over 60,000 people have signed up to ROFUS, the country’s self-exclusion register.
However, Stoklund warned that more needs to be done to ensure prevention and treatment are high on the agenda during the negotiations.
He said: “Prevention is absolutely central to ensuring that fewer Danes develop gambling problems. I am also concerned that we ensure effective and targeted tools for those who already have problems with gambling. Therefore, I propose that we strengthen the treatment of gambling addiction with more funds and better conditions for treatment centres.”
