Spillemyndigheden (DGA)

The Danish Gaming Authority (DGA) was established in 2000 under the Danish Ministry of Taxation. Initially, its role was to regulate machines in arcades and restaurants, as well as the seven land-based casinos operated by the state-owned Danske Spil.

Following years of uncertainty, a new law was introduced in 2012, effectively ending Denmark’s gambling monopoly. As a result, on January 1, 2013, the DGA became an independent authority with its own director. Its mission is to ensure a well-regulated gambling market that benefits both operators and players.

Game Fairness

The Danish Gaming Authority regulates all forms of gambling, including lotteries, public poker tournaments, land-based casinos, gaming machines, sports betting, and online casinos. As a regulatory body, it prioritizes fair and responsible gaming, focusing on player protection and crime prevention.

An operator is required to obtain a license if:

The website is available in Danish
Danish currency is accepted
Customer service is offered in Danish
Payment methods commonly used in Denmark (like Dankort) are available
The operator targets Denmark with its marketing efforts

There are two types of licenses available:

Online Betting License – for betting on event outcomes, such as sports betting (excluding the lottery, which remains a monopoly of Danske Spil)
Online Casino License

How to submit a Complaint

The DGA encourages individuals to report any issues that arise with gambling operators. However, it clarifies that it cannot mediate disputes between players and operators. You can contact the authority only if the complaint involves operators failing to adhere to regulations outlined in the Gambling Act or to report illegal operators.

Operators are required to address player complaints as part of their licensing conditions and must respond promptly. Therefore, if the complaint concerns a specific game, players should first reach out to the relevant operator directly.

Note:
When filing a complaint with an operator, information must be provided about the player's identity as well as the reason for the complaint. If this is not adhered to, the complaint might be dismissed.

If you have a complaint about an operator, you can first contact the Center for Klageløsning (the Danish Dispute Resolution Centre), which serves as the initial step in the Danish consumer complaints system. If no resolution is reached, the complaint can be escalated to the Danish Consumer Complaints Board or taken to court.

For complaints specifically related to the marketing practices of a gambling operator, these should be reported to the Consumer Ombudsman.

How to check a license

To promote a safer gambling environment, the DGA’s logo must be displayed on every licensed operator’s website, indicating that they are licensed and regulated by the authority. Additionally, players can access a list of all currently licensed operators and their associated websites, ensuring that they are engaging with legitimate and trustworthy services.

Responsible gambling and Self-Exclusion

The DGA takes responsible gambling very seriously, and operators are required to implement specific measures to protect and ensure the safety of players. This includes prominently displaying information about the legal age for gambling, as well as the available tools and support. Additionally, players must set a deposit limit before they can begin playing.

The DGA also maintains a self-exclusion register called ROFUS. Through this, players can voluntarily exclude themselves from all online gambling activities and land-based casinos in Denmark by registering via MitID (Danish national “e-ID”). For players without MitID, registration can also be completed by submitting form 9-01 through the website’s contact page or via mail.

Once a permanent exclusion has been requested, it cannot be lifted for at least one year. In addition to permanent exclusions, players can request a temporary break for 24 hours, or for 1, 3, or 6 months. Any exclusion request will also automatically block the receipt of further gambling-related advertising.

For additional support, the DGA offers the confidential responsible gambling helpline, StopSpillet, which provides free advice and assistance. Players can reach StopSpillet at +45 70 22 28 25 or via live chat on their website, stopspillet.dk.