Denmark estimates more than 90% in channelization as it targets black market

• Denmark blocked 162 gambling sites that operate without a license in 2024
• According to H2 Gambling Capital data, the country has a channelization rate of 90.27% in 2024
• Denmark doubles down on promoting responsible gambling in the country

At a time when most other countries are struggling to maintain a strong rate of channelization – the metric used to indicate how many of the active players in a given gambling market are involved with regulated websites and activities – Denmark is a notable outlier.

Denmark maintains a strong channelization rate in 2024

According to data by H2 Gambling Capital, a research firm, the country is enjoying very strong success in this area, as per its latest press release, which indicates that 90.29% of the country’s players are involved with the regulated gambling market, a significant win for the country.

Other Scandinavian majors cannot quite boast the same results, especially when a new report in Sweden stipulates that the channelization rate for online casinos may have shrunk to as little as 59% in the latest surveyed period – a far cry from the 90% set out by the state as the base target.

However, it’s worth noting that by the same data estimate (H2 Gambling Capital's), Sweden sits at 91.35% channelization rate in 2024, which is a completely different number by the one suggested by ATG, a local operator, recently in the country.

This success for Denmark, however, comes against a larger backdrop of the country taking a firm approach against the unregulated gambling market. In 2024 alone, the Danish Gambling Authority blocked 162 illegal gambling sites, with no small help from other regulatory authorities, including the Danish Tax Agency.

"The Danish Gambling Authority's work in 2024 with illegal gambling sites resulted in 162 websites being ruled illegal by the district court. In our opinion, the increase in the number of searched and blocked websites (Appendix 1) is an expression of the Danish Gambling Authority's increasing focus on illegal gambling and not necessarily a growth of the illegal gambling market in Denmark."

Commenting on the most recent milestone in limiting the reach of the black market, the watchdog said that DNS blocking, the measure used to suspend the access of rogue websites to Denmark, has been one of the most effective ways to minimize the level of black-market participation.

Responsible gambling and awareness for regulated websites a priority

However, there are other factors in play as well, such as focusing on educating players on the dangers of illegal gambling and actively encouraging them to participate in licensed options instead.

A staunch effort was launched to promote responsible gambling last year with the watchdog raising public awareness of the matter while also seeking input from the most likely groups to end up experiencing gambling harm – young men.

Apart from this, the Danish Gambling Authority has similarly been working with several partners, including the International Association of Gaming Regulators, to ensure that it shares and implements the best possible practices in protecting consumers.

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