Danish Betting Sites: Licensed or International Operators?
Prior to the beginning of 2012, Danish Sports monopolized online betting in Denmark until the new Gambling Act took effect. This was unanimously accepted by the Danish Parliament in a bill that had been introduced two years earlier; hence Denmark is now open to competition between both local and international betting sites.
The Danish authorities are known to be liberal when it comes to internet gaming, but they still have a number of gambling sites that punters can use. To register with the government and subsequently pay tax, one must be prepared to apply for an operating certificate that allows companies access to the Danish market only.
In early 2021, some licensed betting sites in Denmark left the market because of the online gambling tax increase from 20% to 28%. To pay more in taxes, many .dk domain websites now provide smaller bonuses and lower odds which is effective costs shifted towards customers. Therefore, many Danes who bet have turned to global bookmakers not operating in Denmark.
Many English-speaking bookmakers have Danish options on their websites, and are fully ready to accept payments in the Icelandic króna, some however being blocked by ISPs.
Payment Methods Available at Danish Betting Sites
Again, this is if you use unlicensed websites to bet online in Denmark; you might come across payment restrictions.
Danish gambling authority can prevent transactions between non-licensed betting sites and Danish citizens according to article 65 of the gambling act, hence, it’s not surprising that the best betting sites in Denmark have multitude payment methods facilitating easy account funding.
All licensed bookmakers accept Dankort, the national debit card of Denmark. And there also exists another payment method under development with Danske Bank known as Forbrugsforeningskort, which is an instant bank transfer tool. Some sites accept Betalingsservice while Payson, a Swedish designed payment solution that has in recent times become very popular among the Danish bettors.
Apart from these payment methods, you can also put kroner in your betting account through popular e-wallets, prepaid vouchers and cryptocurrencies. Trust me; it’s an easy thing to deposit on Danish bookmakers.
The History of Sports Betting in Denmark
Like I mentioned before, every form of online gambling in Denmark was regulated through a single operator, Danske Spil. Launched in 1948 by the Danish Government, it started with offering 1X2 markets for football matches and later advanced to include many other betting options.
Because of two main reasons, the Danish government was beyond contented with their monopolistic betting operator. One such reason is that it ensured they got a way of earning from the commercialized gambling activity This permitted them to funnel money realized from Danske Spil profits into social causes like charities as well as investing in lower level sports activities.
Secondly, it meant that the government was in a better position to control gambling among its citizens hence minimizing any possible social harm that could result from pathological gamblers.
New Gambling Act Passes Unanimously
However, such monopoly over the betting industry could of course help for maximum control and regulation according to theories but it was not workable in practice. The internet allowed countless bookmakers located outside Denmark to accept Danish customers. Others even provided Danish translation on their website pages so as to get subscriptions and facilitate entire procedure.
The government responded by enacting a new gambling act in 2010, which took effect on 1st January 2012. This paved way for commercial applicants to be given licenses to offer betting as well as operate online casinos. The presence of Danske Spil continued to dominate the online bingo and horse racing betting markets until 2017 when these markets were added into the Danish government’s licensing portfolio.
Danish Government Increases Online Gambling Tax
The Danish government in 2019 approved the increase of taxes for online gambling by licensed operators. On January 1, 2021, new rules came into effect that raised the tax rate from 20% to 28%.
Although it is still much lower than the 41% that starts land-based betting tax, there has been a lot of debate among Danish gambling websites on their position towards the future. For instance, in January 2020, Betsafe left the Danish market because of this tax rise.
Fortunately, there are still many good sports betting sites that are operational in Denmark. You may choose any of the listed bookmaker on this page to get a welcome bonus and compare the latest odds for the most popular sports for betting in Denmark.
Is sports betting legal in Denmark? Absolutely, Denmark allows sports betting. In order to legally operate, bookmakers are required to obtain a license from the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden). On the other hand, there are no physical doors in Denmark for those betting sites that are considered the best and provide better odds and bonuses.
Can I get a sports betting bonus in Denmark? Certainly! The intense rivalry in the Danish gambling market implies that the sports betting sites offer remarkably attractive bonuses to woo new customers. Most Danish bookmakers will give you a number of options: cash deposit promotion or free bets or even both.
Are sports betting profits taxed in Denmark? Danish gamblers who win in their bets do not pay taxes on them, which is a good thing for them. However, Danish betting sites have to part with lots of money as taxes. From 1st January 2021, licensed operators in Denmark are required to pay 28% on gambling taxes that represents an increase of 40% from the previous rate of 20%.
Q. Where can I present a claim about a betting site from Denmark? If any problem arises from a licensed betting site in Denmark, you can contact the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden). The regulatory agency urges gamblers to report such problems as payment troubles and serves as a mediator by resolving conflicts timely.