Danes’ gambling spend fell in 2020

COVID-19 hit Denmark in March 2020 and large parts of society was locked down. Naturally, this caused a large decline in gambling on gaming machines in gambling arcades and at land-based casinos. At the same time, almost all sports tournaments were cancelled or postponed, which meant that there were not many matches to bet on. 

”One might have expected that there would have been a marked increase in online casino games when the land-based gambling arcades were closed down and the opportunities to bet on sports were severely limited,” says Anders Dorph, director of the Danish Gambling Authority, and continues: “However, this is far from the case. Although online casino increased a bit, it is the smallest increase since 2012, and it therefore far from out-weighs the massive decline we have seen in the other areas.” 

When comparing the figures from 2019 with 2020 figures, they show that while Danes’ gambling spend on online casino increased by just under 5 percent in 2020, the spending on betting fell by 9 percent. Gambling on gaming machines fell by almost 30 percent and Danes’ gambling on land-based casinos fell by just under 32 percent. 

On the other hand, it was clear to see that betting increased when the various European football leagues resumed in the autumn. There were suddenly many matches to bet on, which meant that the gambling spend on betting increased by almost 17 percent in the last months of 2020 compared to 2019. 

Figures for monopoly lotteries and charity lotteries are not yet available and therefore they are not included in the final total, which is presented here. 

The Danish Gambling Authority continiously monitor the Danish gambling market and publishes statistics every quarter of the year. 

Read the fact sheet on the gambling spend in 2020.