Danes prefer to gamble online

The latest figures from the Danish Gambling Authority show that 54 percent of the Danes’ gambling in 2019 took place on online devices. In comparison, the figure was 31 percent in 2012.

Thus, Danes increasingly choose virtual gaming machines and betting via mobile phones or computers over the land-based casinos, gaming machines and paper pools coupons.

In the period from 2012–2019, the total gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Denmark increased from DKK 7.8 billion to DKK 9.8 billion. GGR is the international way of measuring the size of the gambling market. It is calculated based on the players’ stakes minus the winnings, and equals the amount that players have spent on gambling products.

“There is no doubt that the Danes’ preference to gamble online is reflected in the market development. The development in the gambling market seems to follow the general technological development, where an increasingly larger part of our everyday life takes place online”, says acting director of the Danish Gambling Authority Jan Madsen.

Danes gamble via their smart phones
The Danish Gambling Authority have examined the platforms used for online gambling. Here, the technological development is also clearly reflected, as more and more Danes prefer their mobile phones and tablets to computers.

Whereas only 11 percent of the spending on online casinos and online betting took place on mobile devices in 2012, this share has increased to 61 percent in 2019.  

“One of the Danish Gambling Authority’s most important tasks is to monitor the developments in the gambling market. Among other things, we use the statistics to get an overview of where the market in heading, but also to organise our supervision of the gambling operators and thereby ensure that gambling in Denmark takes place fair and responsibly”, says acting director of the Danish Gambling Authority Jan Madsen.

Second place in Europe
Compared with other European countries, it is only Sweden that has a larger share of online gambling than Denmark. Here, 59 percent of the gambling market is online. The three Nordic countries, Sweden, Denmark and Norway are the only countries in which more than half of the spending on gambling products takes place online.

”There is a huge difference among the various gambling markets and the regulation in European countries. Some countries still have a monopoly on gambling, and in France, where online gambling only accounts for 24 percent of the market, there is still a strong tradition of lotto and betting on horse racing in bars instead of online”; says acting director of the Danish Gambling Authority Jan Madsen.