Danish Regulator Blocks 334 Unlicensed Gambling Sites in 2025

According to the Spillemyndigheden annual report, the Danish gambling regulator obtained court approval to block 334 unlicensed websites targeting players in 2025. The enforcement campaign followed a joint review of 695 domains conducted with the Danish Tax Authority.

Review Process and Blocking Effectiveness

Of the examined domains, 334 were confirmed as operating without a Danish licence and were subsequently blocked. An additional 36 operators withdrew or modified their services following regulatory intervention. Spillemyndigheden attributes the increased number of blocked domains to enhanced monitoring capabilities rather than expansion of the unlicensed market. A comprehensive market channelisation study is scheduled for release later in the year. Independent traffic analysis indicates that visits to 178 sites blocked in June 2025 declined by approximately 34 percent over the following six months. The regulator noted that impact varied across domains, with some showing minimal traffic reduction.

Legislative Updates and Platform Oversight

These enforcement measures align with the Spilpakke 1 legislation, which took effect in October 2025. The regulatory package expands blocking authority to cover affiliate and referral networks, introduces stricter advertising standards, and implements a whistle-to-whistle prohibition on betting promotions during live sports broadcasts. The regulator also identified rising unlicensed promotional activity on mobile applications and streaming platforms. Dedicated complaint procedures with Apple and Google now accelerate the removal of unauthorized apps, while licensed operators can directly notify Meta of brand misuse to expedite content takedowns.

Market Revenue and Historical Context

The regulator recorded total Danish gross gaming revenue at DKK 11.5bn (€1.53bn) for 2025, representing a 1 percent decrease from the previous year. Online casino operations now account for 38 percent of the national market, generating DKK 4.31bn in revenue and marking a 12.1 percent year-on-year increase. For reference, the 2012 sector liberalisation established the baseline against which current inflation-adjusted figures are measured, with 2025 revenue remaining 4.9 percent below that historical level.