Denmark’s gambling authority Spillemyndigheden has formed a new agreement with the country’s Consumer Ombudsman Forbrugerombudsmanden, and its gambling advertising board Spilreklamenævnet, to coordinate efforts against illegal gambling marketing.
According to a statement by Forbrugerombudsmanden, the three parties will work together when they have to take action against illegal gambling marketing in Denmark to avoid the duplication of efforts and to improve their cooperation.
In terms of operation, if a gambling company does not comply with criticism by Spilreklamenævnet, or if rules are found to be broken, cases will be forwarded by the advertising board to the ombudsman or the gambling authority.
Forbrugerombudsmanden and Spillemyndigheden can also inform complainants that they can complain to the advertising board if a company breaks the industry’s code of conduct, but not rules handled by the ombudsman or the gambling authority.
Torben Jensen, Consumer Ombudsman, commented: “Our new cooperation agreement with the Gambling Authority and the Gambling Advertising Board strengthens our supervision of gambling companies’ marketing.
“The agreement involves better internal communication, ensures coordination and prevents duplication of work, which benefits consumers.”
Forbrugerombudsmanden checks a gambling company’s compliance with the Marketing Practices Act and other consumer protection rules, while Spillemyndigheden supervises compliance with the marketing of gambling rules in section 36(1) of the Gambling Act, as well as the rules on sales promotion measures in relevant executive orders on gambling.
Spilreklamenævnet handles gambling marketing complaints that breach the industry’s code of conduct, a code for the social responsibility of the industry’s marketing to protect vulnerable groups and children, as well as limit gambling addiction.
All three parties will hold annual meetings and regularly inform each other of relevant cases.