Court rules in favor of regulator

A request by the Danish Gaming Authority (Spillemyndigheden) to block illegal gambling sites in Demark has been approved. A district court in Denmark ruled in favor of the regulator last month, stopping 16 unlicensed operators from offering their services in the country.

Originally, 17 illegal sites were listed in Spillemyndigheden’s request. However, one operator decided to stop servicing the market before the court made its decision.

Illegal gambling sites blocked

According to Spillemyndigheden director Morten Niels Jakobsen, the regulator is working to protect players from illegal gambling. The goal is to ensure that licensed operators can provide services in Denmark in orderly conditions. Jakobsen said:

That is why it is very important for us to clamp down on gambling offered without a license.”

The sites among the 16 blocked include seven online casino operators, seven that focus on esports skin betting, and two sports betting sites. The regulator is responsible for monitoring the local market and conducts searches on a regular basis to find illegal operators who are targeting Danish players.

Skin betting services were of particular interest to the Danish regulator. This type of wagering attracts young people under the age of 18 who may be exposed to gambling elements via video games. The regulator recently expanded its list of illegal sites to include skin betting from 2018. Concern arose regarding the content and how it might affect minors.

Warning issued

Spillemyndigheden issued a warning to each operator to stop offering services in Denmark before the matter went to court. Only one decided to cease operations in the country before the court date.

The courts continue to rule in favor of Spillemyndigheden when cases of illegal gambling sites arise. Last year alone, the regulator successfully requested for 25 unlicensed operators to be blocked.