Danes gamble less during coronavirus crisis

Since the lockdown of Denmark from 11 March 2020, all land-based casinos and gambling arcades have been closed. In addition, almost all sports tournaments have been put on hold or cancelled, which has affected the betting market. This shows from an analysis made by the Danish Gambling Authority about Danes gambling activities during the coronavirus crisis. A comparison between gambling data from 9 March to 3 May and the same period in 2019 reveals a decrease of 60 percent in deposits on bets at operators with a licence in Denmark.

“It very much looks like some of the measures that have been put in place in connection with the lockdown of Denmark has had an effect on parts of the gambling market – particularly on betting, land-based casinos and gaming machines” says director of the Danish Gambling Authority Morten Niels Jakobsen.  

The Danish Gambling Authority monitors the Danish gambling market on an ongoing basis and have specifically examined whether the closing of land-based gambling services and the lack of betting options on sports events have drawn players to the online casino universe instead. While the betting statistics speak clearly for themselves with a significant decrease in deposits, the Danish Gambling Authority’s statistics for online casino show a minor increase.

“Although it is still too soon to measure the full effect of the coronavirus crisis on the gambling market, it does not appear as if the decrease in gambling at land-based casinos and gaming machines as well as betting has caused an increase in gambling on online casino” says Morten Niels Jakobsen.

From 9 March to 3 May 2020, there has been an increase in deposits on online casino of 2 percent compared with the same period in 2019, but as it is a market in growth, the increase is not unusual. Thus, it cannot be concluded that Danes have moved their gambling activities from one gambling sector to another considering the lockdown.

The Danish Gambling Authority continues its close monitoring of the Danish gambling market and will examine how the markets react when certain activities are yet again opened.

See the development in the fact sheet