Gaming machines
You can obtain a licence to install and operate gaming machines in:
- Restaurants with an alcohol licence (maximum 3 gaming machines) NB: If a restaurant changes its manager or restaurant manager and thus has a new alcohol licence, the licence holder must submit a new application (form no. 6-01) for licence to install and run gaming machines for restaurants as well as a copy of the valid licence to sell alcohol
- Gambling arcades (premises without an alcohol licence, but where the premises are constantly manned during opening hours)
How to obtain a licence
You can apply to the Danish Gambling Authority for a licence by using application form no. 6-01 .
To obtain a licence you must meet a set of requirements, i.e. it is required that you are minimum 21 years old and are not indebted to the public sector.
When you apply for a licence for a gambling arcade, the Danish Gambling Authority consults the police. You may also be contacted by the Danish Gambling Authority if we want to approve the premises. Accordingly, you may expect about five weeks for the application process.
It is a requirement that the Danish Gambling Authority has approved the manager of a gambling arcade. For approval as a manager you must use form no. 8-01.
How to apply for approval as a manager and areas of responsibility when approved as a manager.
NB. video only available in Danish
General technical requirements
These documents provide you with the requirements for the technical configuration.
XSD forms for standard records, used for reporting of game data
Tool for validating XML files
When you have obtained a licence
The gaming machines must be approved and sealed by an accredited test house and be connected to the control system at the Danish Gambling Authority. A list of accredited test houses is available further below.
On the gaming premises, a set of rules for using the gaming machines must be displayed.
You must pay a fee per gaming machine per year. Read more about when you must pay a fee under Fees on gaming machines.
Furthermore, you must pay a duty to the Danish Tax Agency, which depends e.g. on the gross gaming revenue (GGR).
Individuals under 18 are not allowed in gambling arcades and may not play on gaming machines in restaurants.
You must submit an application to the Danish Gambling Authority if you want to make changes to e.g.:
- The number of gaming machines (form no. 6-01)
- The arrangement of the gambling arcade (form no. 6-01)
- The manager of the gambling arcade (form no. 8-01)
If you want to deregister one of your premises or your operating licence, you must use form no. 6-02.
A list of licence holders is available further below.
Remember
Registration and payment of gambling duty.
Your company must be registered at the Danish Business Authority before you begin operating gaming machines. Use registration form no. 29.037 .
If you have any question regarding registration or payment of gambling duty, contact the Danish Tax Agency at tel. no. +45 72 22 18 18.
Fees on gaming machines
You must pay a fee of DKK 723 per gaming machine per year (in 2024). The fee must be paid by the end of January either by using the Danish Tax Agency’s TestSelv Business or by submitting a fee statement.
The Danish Tax Agency TastSelv Business
You must pay a fee in the following situations:
- Inspection of new gaming machines that are installed for the first time
- Inspection of gaming machines as a result of a modification that causes changes of the image of the gaming machine (modified to another type of gaming machine e.g. “Magic Night” to “Allan Capone”). When the gaming machine is modified, it is considered new
- Buyer/renter must pay a fee, in connection with a business transfer or rental of gaming machines to another licencee, although seller/owner previously has paid a fee for the entire calendar year
For a gaming machine that is installed and used during a calendar year, and for gaming machines that change image, the licence holder must state and pay the fee by the end of the following month in form no. 20.053, which can be found on this page.
Technical breakdown of gaming machines
Go to the form to report a technical breakdown of gaming machines.
Guides
Guides on gaming machinesAll versions of the guide are not valid. We refer you to the valid legal guide below.
The legislation on all gambling categories
Technical requirements for server supported gaming machines and gaming machines at land-based casinos. (Only available in Danish)
Requirements for reporting of game data from server-supported gaming machines and gaming machines in land-based casinos. (Only available in Danish)
Only available in Danish
This guide is aimed at managers in gambling arcades. Gambling arcades are premises with gaming machines.
This guide is aimed at licence holders who have obtained a licence to install and operate gaming machines in gambling arcades or restaurants.
Updates to gaming machine programmes
Laws and Executive Orders
See historical versions of the legislation
Notice: There may have been made later changes to the acts/executive orders. Please confer with the Danish legal text in order to ensure that you have the latest version of the acts. You are always welcome to contact the Danish Gambling Authority in case of doubt.
The English versions of the acts and executive orders are unofficial translations. In case of any discrepancy between the original Danish text and the English translations of the acts and executive orders, the Danish text shall prevail.
The Danish Act on Gambling
Only available in Danish
On land-based casinos
Only available in Danish
Provision of land-based casino is covered by the rules on anti-money laundering. You can find more information and legislation on money laundering under Prevention of money laundering.
Read more about prevention of money laundering
List of licence holders
The Danish Gambling Authority publishes a list of licence holders, which makes it easy to be up to date with the development of the market of gaming machines.
The list includes gaming premises with a licence to operate gaming machines.
The list can be presented in the following orders:
- Address (postal code order)
- The name of the licence holder
- The name of the municipality
- Police districts
All four lists are updated on a daily basis.
In the lists, you can see how many gaming machines that the licence holder has a licence to operate.
You can also get the list in an excel format, which contains data on the licencee, the premises, municipality and police districts.
List of accredited test houses
The Danish Gambling Authority has approved the following accredited test houses:
- Force Technology
Park Allé 345
2605 Brøndby
- Teknologisk Institut
Materialafprøvning
Teknologiparken
8000 Århus C
- GLI Europe BV
Satellietbaan 12
2181 MH Hillegom
Holland
- Quinel M Limited
Luxe Pavilion Level 2
Portomaso Complex
SJ 1430 St Julians
Malta
- SIQ Gaming Laboratories, Ltd.
Masera-Spasiceva 10
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
- BMM Testlabs
Edificio Vinson del Parque Empresarial Vallsolana
Camí de Can Camps, 17-19
08174 Sant Cugat del Vallés
Barcelona
Spain
Only available in Danish
The guideline for approval of test-houses is currently only available in Danish.