Ladbrokes voices support for new Danish licensing system

The proposal should be implemented as planned next year. Earlier this year, the Danish government decided to implement a regulated, partial liberalization of the Danish gaming market, in order to afford better protection to players and to guarantee future revenues for social causes.

The proposed legislation would also bring the country into compliance with its obligations under EU law, having received a reasoned opinion from the European Commission in 2007.
Denmark intends to offer an unlimited number of licences for private operators enabling them to provide sports betting, casino and poker to Danish customers, in competition with the state-owned operator Dansk Spil.

The licenses are expected to cost an estimated 403,000 euros to 537,000 euros per year.  "While the Swedish Government has chosen to put forth arguments for a gambling market inconsistent with the demands of consumers, Denmark now chooses another way," said Lasse Dilschmann, CEO of Ladbrokes Scandinavia.

"This is something we welcome as we finally see the beginning of the end of the gambling politics currently dominant in the Nordic region, which lacks a connection to reality and serves a primary purpose of maximising profits for the state."

Denmark has not yet formally announced proposed tax rates, but according to Ladbrokes the rate is expected to be set at between 15 - 20% of gross winnings. The Danish government will decide these matters later this year following official approval of the proposal by the EC, with a planned implementation date of spring 2010.

In 2007, Denmark received a reasoned opinion from the European Commission which considered that restrictions on the Danish sports betting market were incompatible with EU law, and that the measures taken by Denmark to restrict the free provision of sports betting services had not been shown to be necessary, proportionate or non-discriminatory.