Denmark Opens Applications for New Land-Based Casino Licences

Denmark’s gambling regulator, Spillemyndigheden (the Danish Gambling Authority), has launched a new application round for land-based casino licences, with successful operators eligible to receive licences for periods of up to 10 years.

Operators interested in entering or expanding within Denmark’s land-based casino market must submit their completed applications, together with all required supporting documentation, no later than November 3. The authority has made clear that applications submitted after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.

Spillemyndigheden has not indicated how many new licences it intends to issue as part of the current application process.

At present, Denmark has seven active land-based casino licences. These cover casino operations in Copenhagen S, Copenhagen V, Helsingør, Odense, Vejle, Aarhus and Aalborg.

As part of the licensing process, submitted applications will be distributed for consultation among several relevant public authorities. These include the municipality concerned, the local chief of police, the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Business. Depending on the circumstances of a particular application, the Danish Maritime Authority may also be asked to provide input.

The Danish Gambling Authority will examine whether applicants have the ability to operate a casino in a professional manner and whether they have the financial strength required to maintain a stable operation.

Among the factors considered during the assessment will be the applicant’s previous experience in the gambling sector, its available liquidity and its ownership structure. The regulator will also assess the individuals responsible for running the business, including members of management and the board.

The authority’s evaluation will extend beyond the applicant itself and will also take into account a range of factors connected to the proposed casino. These include the geographical aspects of the project, the anticipated customer base, the proposed location, the size of the casino and the overall nature of the planned development.

The new licensing round comes at a time when Denmark’s land-based casino industry remains well below the revenue levels it recorded historically.

According to the latest figures, land-based casinos generated DKK378 million (US$58.3 million) in gross gaming revenue in 2025. This represented a 5.6% decline from the DKK401 million (US$61.8 million) generated in 2024.

The longer-term decline is even more pronounced. Revenue from Denmark’s land-based casinos has dropped by 35% since 2012, when the sector generated DKK579 million (US$89.2 million).

Despite the new licensing opportunity, land-based casinos accounted for only 3% of Denmark’s total gambling market, which was worth DKK11.5 billion (US$1.77 billion) in 2025.

Online casino, meanwhile, became Denmark’s largest gambling category for the first time.

The segment generated DKK4.31 billion (US$664.3 million) in revenue during 2025, representing 38% of the country’s overall gambling revenue.

By fLEXI tEAM