Spillemyndigheden, the Danish Gambling Authority, has blocked the largest single number of websites in its history.

Blocking 82 websites for operating illegal gambling services, including both casino and sports betting platforms, the move was sanctioned by the City Court of Frederiksberg, which already implemented a total of 55 website blocks in 2021, as authorities ramp up its enforcement against unlicensed operators in the country. 

“The Danish Gambling Authority was established to ensure the framework for a fair gambling market,” said Anders Dorph, DGA Director.

“One of our most important tasks in that context is to protect players against illegal gambling and to ensure that they are not exposed to gambling providers that do not have a licence in Denmark. 

“At the same time, it is very important that we ensure that the operators who are licensed to offer gambling in Denmark can run their business under orderly conditions and therefore our work to block illegal websites is very important.” 

Bringing the total number of blocked illegal websites to 227 since the implementation of the current Gambling Act’s inception in 2012, the Danish gambling law states that it is illegal to offer gaming services in the country without an official DGA licence, which also applies to foreign operators targeting the market.

Additionally, operators are classified as targeting Danish consumers if: their products are in the Danish language, use Danish currency, accept payment cards that only work in Denmark, offer Danish customer service and connect via the Steam video game platform.

The DGA stated that it will continue to monitor the gambling market for illegal activity using automated searches and following up on notifications from both Danish citizens and businesses. 

The blocking of the 82 websites was again sanctioned by the Frederiksberg City Court on 22 September, marking the eighth time that the DGA had taken its blocking cases to the legal administration. 

Alongside the website blocks, the DGA revealed that one of its orders against betting firm Tipwin, the obligation to train staff in line with one anti-money laundering measure, has been annulled. 

This update came after it reported the company to the police earlier this year for multiple breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.