July 2024 brought encouraging news for Denmark’s gambling industry as the latest data from Spillmyndigheden, the national gambling regulator, revealed a 2.6% year-on-year increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR). The total GGR across all verticals, including land-based gambling, reached DKK554 million (£62.2 million/€74.2 million/$82.6 million).
Online Casino Leads the Growth
The most significant contributor to this growth was the online casino sector, which saw a notable 7.8% increase in GGR compared to the previous year, generating DKK284 million. This surge highlights the continued popularity of online gaming in Denmark, though it remains shy of the record DKK309 million achieved in March 2024.
Sports betting, another key component of the Danish gambling landscape, experienced a modest rise of 0.7%, with GGR climbing to DKK149 million from DKK148 million in the same month last year. However, this figure represents a substantial drop from June’s GGR of DKK271 million, which peaked during the height of the Euro 2024 tournament.
The July GGR figures revealed that online casino activity accounted for 51.25% of the total GGR, making it the dominant force in Denmark's gambling market. Sports betting followed, comprising 26.9% of the sector's revenue. This distribution marked only a slight shift from July 2023, when online casinos made up 48.69% of the GGR, indicating a steady preference among Danish gamblers for online casino games.
Decline in Land-Based Revenue
While the online segment showed positive trends, the land-based sector faced challenges in July. Casino spending saw a significant 9.4% decline year-on-year, dropping to DKK29 million. This decrease was also evident month-to-month, with casino revenue falling 9.3% from June’s figures.
Slot machines, a staple of Denmark’s land-based gambling environment, similarly struggled. Revenue from slot machines decreased by 5.2% to DKK92 million compared to the previous year. Monthly, the decline continued from June’s GGR of DKK97 million, signaling a challenging period for the land-based gambling sector.
Another important aspect of Denmark’s gambling landscape is the national self-exclusion scheme, ROFUS (Register of Voluntarily Excluded Players). In July, the number of individuals registered with ROFUS reached 51,226, reflecting an 11% increase compared to the same month in 2023. The scheme's participants include 17,157 temporarily excluded players and 34,069 entirely excluded players.
The data also highlighted a gender disparity among those registered with ROFUS, with females accounting for 22.67% of the excluded players, while males made up the remaining 77.33%. The number of self-excluded players showed a slight month-to-month increase of 1.63% since June when the regulator reported a total GGR of DKK703 million.
Denmark's gambling market displayed mixed results in July 2024, with growth in the online sector contrasted by declines in land-based operations. The 2.6% overall rise in GGR was largely driven by the online casino segment, which continues to gain traction among Danish players. However, the challenges faced by land-based casinos and slot machines suggest a shifting landscape where digital platforms increasingly dominate. Meanwhile, the growing number of players opting for self-exclusion through ROFUS reflects ongoing concerns about responsible gaming and the industry's adherence to player welfare.
As Denmark's gambling market evolves, the balance between online and land-based activities will likely continue to shift, with online platforms playing an increasingly central role. The rise in self-exclusions further underscores the importance of responsible gaming measures in this dynamic industry.
Source:
''Denmark July GGR ticks up as land-based casino decline continues'', igamingbusiness.com, August 28, 2024.
