Spillemyndigheden (DGA)

by

Adam Maclean

The Danish Gaming Authority was formed in the year 2000, as a part the Danish Ministry of Taxation. It was initially created to oversee machines in arcades and restaurants, in addition to the 7 land-based casinos which were operated by the state owned organisation Danske Spil at the time.

After a long period of uncertainty, a new act was passed in 2012 to end the gambling monopoly in Denmark and from the 1st January 2013 the DGA became an independent authority with its very own director. Its mission: to preside over a gambling market that is well regulated for operators and players alike.

Fair game

The Danish Gaming Authority now issues licences to and regulates all forms of gambling including lotteries, public poker tournaments, land based casinos, gaming machines, sports betting and of course, online casinos. As a regulator, it is committed to ensuring fair and responsible gaming, and focuses on player protection and preventing crime.

An operator is considered as offering its services to Denmark and therefore needs a license if:

The website is in the Danish language
Danish currency can be used
The customer service is available in Danish
Players can use payment methods that usually only work in Denmark (such as Dankort)
The operator aims its marketing at Denmark

There are two types of license available:

Online Betting license - for betting on the outcome of an event, for example sports betting (this excludes lottery as Danske Spil still has a monopoly)
Online Casino license

Submitting a complaint

While the DGA mentions it is always interested to hear about problems that have arisen with a gambling operator, it also states that it cannot settle disputes between players and operators. You can only contact the authority if the complaint is regarding operators that are not following regulations as set out in the Gambling Act, or to report illegal operators.

Operators are obligated to deal with player complaints as part of the terms of their license, and must do so as soon as possible. Therefore, if the complaint is regarding a game, the player is advised to contact 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.

You can also make a complaint about an operator to the Center for Klageløsning (the Danish Dispute Resolution Centre), which is the first step in the Danish consumer complaints system. If a solution is still not found, the complaint can be escalated to the Danish consumer Complaints Board, or to the courts.

Should you have a complaint specifically about the marketing of a gambling operator, you should report to the Consumer Ombudsman.

How to check a license

As part of the requirements for creating a safer gambling market, the logo of the DGA must be visible on each operator's website to show that they are licensed and under the supervision of the regulator. It is also possible to obtain a list of all currently licensed operators and the websites that they operate, so players can be sure that they are legitimate.

Responsible gambling and Self-Exclusion

Responsible gambling is taken very seriously by the DGA, and operators must ensure that certain standards are in place for the safety and protection of players. Information must be made displayed in a prominent position regarding the legal age for gambling and the tools and support that are available. Every player must also set a deposit limit before being allowed to play.

The DGA operates a register of self-excluded players, known as ROFUS. Players are able to exclude themselves from all online gambling activities and all land-based casinos in Denmark by registering voluntarily using NemID (Danish national "e-ID"). If a NemID is not available, players can also register by submitting form 9-01 via the contact page of the website or by mail.

self exclusion — register of self-excluded players

If a permanent exclusion has been requested, it cannot be removed for at least 1 year. Apart from being able to exclude permanently, a temporary break can be requested for 24 hours or 1, 3, or 6 months. Any request for exclusion will also automatically prevent any further gambling advertising being received.

A confidential responsible gambling helpline, StopSpillet, is also offered by the authority to provide free advice and support. StopSpillet can be contacted on +45 70 22 28 25 or via live chat on the website, stopspillet.dk.

Contact Information

Spillemyndigheden

Address: Englandsgade 25, 6. sal - 5000 Odense C.

Tel: +45 72 38 79 13

E-mail: mail@spillemyndigheden.dk

Website: https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/