The Danish Gambling Authority, known as Spillemyndigheden, has announced the opening of a new application period for land-based casino licenses. Operators now have until November 3, 2026, to submit their complete applications along with the necessary supporting documents.
This initiative represents the first official chance this year for businesses to either enter the Danish land-based casino market or renew their existing licenses.
According to Consolidated Act No. 1182, effective from September 22, 2025, Spillemyndigheden is authorized to grant land-based casino licenses for durations of up to ten years.
Each application will undergo a consultation process involving multiple government entities prior to any final decisions being made. Spillemyndigheden stated, "All applications received will be forwarded for consultation to the local municipality, the Chief of Police, the Ministry of Taxation, the Ministry of Business, and, where applicable, the Danish Maritime Authority."
In assessing applicants, the regulator focuses on whether they can manage a casino in a manner that is both professionally and financially responsible. This evaluation includes a review of the applicant's professional qualifications, such as their experience in the gambling sector and their financial health, ensuring they possess adequate liquidity to cover the substantial costs associated with operating a land-based casino.
Additionally, geographical considerations, the applicant's current or potential customer base, and comprehensive project descriptions submitted with each application will also be taken into account. The ownership structure and information about senior management will play a role in the evaluation process as well.
Currently, Denmark's land-based casino market consists of seven active licenses, with venues located in Copenhagen (both S and V districts), Helsingør, Odense, Vejle, Aarhus, and Aalborg.
The reopening of the application process could either broaden the market or alter its ownership dynamics, depending on the number of new licenses granted.
As of the end of 2025, Spillemyndigheden had issued a total of 1,970 licenses across all gambling sectors in Denmark.
The authority's annual report for 2025, titled "Spilmarkedet i tal 2025," indicated that gross gaming revenue (GGR) from land-based casinos decreased by 5.6% to DKK 378 million (approximately $58 million) last year, accounting for 3% of Denmark's overall gambling market. Newly liberalized land-based bingo generated DKK 30 million ($4.5 million) in GGR, which is less than 1% of the market.
Online casinos continue to dominate Denmark's gambling landscape, with online casino GGR reaching DKK 4.31 billion ($646.5 million) in 2025, representing 38% of the total market. This figure marks a 12.1% increase compared to the previous year and is more than double the amount recorded in 2012.
Spillemyndigheden noted that the share of online gambling in total GGR has consistently increased each year since 2012, except for 2022, while land-based GGR has seen a decline during the same timeframe. The regulator concluded that the overall growth in market GGR is largely attributed to the rise in online gambling.
Despite this trend, the decision to reopen the land-based licensing process indicates that Spillemyndigheden believes there is potential for the segment to either maintain or expand its presence in the market, although the level of interest from applicants remains uncertain.