Denmark adds another 79 gambling site to blacklist

Denmark has won another round against the offshore gambling market, with the Danish Gambling Authority (DGA) winning a case in front of a Frederiksberg court, in which the law sided with the watchdog and gave a green light to ban 79 websites from the country.

More offshore websites DNS-blocked in Denmark

The websites targeted by the DGA are all offshore gambling operators which operate without the necessary licenses in the country. The watchdog has now blocked a total of 162 websites this year alone that will no longer be accessible locally, and the list of all-time blocked websites has swelled to 438 websites since 2012 when the regulator first started applying this measure against the offshore market.

The model has been copied elsewhere with Australia proving to be the most successful jurisdiction of going toe-to-toe with offshore domains and operators and managing to block some 1,000-odd websites since it launched its own effort in November 2019.

Back in Denmark, the country has used a DNS block which essentially co-opts telecoms companies into the enforcement of the rules. A telecoms company must ensure that a user cannot access the designated blacklisted website.

The downside of this measure – although highly effective – is that it is possible for legitimate websites to fall into the crossfire. In the meantime, Danish Gambling Authority Director Anders Dorph has offered a rather pragmatic of what the regulator had tried to achieve with this measure:

"We know that some players will try to bypass the DNS blocks. Therefore, it is very important to us that the information you come across is clear and makes the players aware that they are trying to access a site without a license. These sites do not have the same level of consumer protection, and it can be very risky for a player to use them."

Addressing the new threat of illegal gambling sites in Denmark

In an earlier interview for Casino Guru News, Anders Dorph discussed the regulator’s efforts to ensure that underage individuals are protected, although new challenges have risen, as outlined by the recent regulatory update.

The DGA also spoke of the rise of games such as Roblox which could be leading to higher underage gambling levels, because of the game’s Robux currency. The regulator argued that the gambling-like mechanics of the game and its currency introduced children to the industry, whether intentionally or not.

The challenges that the DGA faces remain as many as ever, but the regulator is committed to continue tackling those as they arise and present themselves.

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