Denmark opened its online gambling market in 2012 and regulates it through Spillemyndigheden, the Danish Gambling Authority, under the Gambling Act (Spilleloven) and a set of Executive Orders. Licensed online casino and betting operators serve Danish players alongside licensed land-based casinos. For content teams, three things define the work here: a national self-exclusion register (ROFUS) that every licence holder must connect to, a deposit limit the player must set before they start, and a major advertising-reform package that tightens the rules from 2027. This page covers the regulator and legal framework, the key requirements, the helpline, self-exclusion, and advertising.
Test Playbook content against Denmark's rules in the live Coverage Map, and confirm the underlying requirements on the official regulator site, Spillemyndigheden.
Two features stand out. First, every licence holder must connect to ROFUS, the national self-exclusion register — one registration can shut the player out of all online gambling, land-based casinos, and retail betting in Denmark at once. Second, the deposit limit is mandatory and must be set before the player begins play. A 2025–26 advertising reform package adds more from 1 January 2027: a ban on under-25 individuals appearing in gambling ads, a 200-metre school-proximity ban, and a live-sports "whistle-to-whistle" advertising ban.
Who regulates: Spillemyndigheden
Spillemyndigheden (the Danish Gambling Authority) issues licences, supervises operators, and monitors the industry — auditing licensees, verifying that games use certified random number generators, enforcing responsible-gambling rules, and maintaining a blacklist of unlicensed sites. The framework sits on the Gambling Act (Spilleloven) and Executive Orders 1274/1276 of 2019 (as amended by Executive Orders 682/684 of June 2025), with a further 2025–26 advertising reform package notified to the European Commission in January 2026 and taking effect on 1 January 2027.
Denmark issues two distinct online licences. The online casino licence covers roulette, blackjack, baccarat, punto banco, poker, online bingo, gaming machines, and combination games; the betting licence covers wagers on the outcome of events, including sport and horse racing. Playbook content itself needs no licence — but the operator deploying it must hold the relevant Spillemyndigheden licence.
Legal requirements and permitted products
Denmark runs a licensing model: licensed online casino, online betting, and land-based casinos all operate under Spillemyndigheden oversight. The floor is 18 for most gambling, and operators must verify each player's age and identity at registration before play.
| Requirement / product | Status | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum gambling age | 18+ for most gambling — operators verify age and identity at registration | Gambling Act (Spilleloven) |
| Online casino | Legal — licensed; covers roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, online bingo, gaming machines | Online casino licence |
| Sports betting | Legal — licensed; covers betting on sport, horse racing, and other events | Betting licence |
| Land-based casino | Legal — licensed physical casinos | Gambling Act |
For the player-facing math behind these products, the Game Guides cover slots, blackjack, and sports betting in plain language.
Key requirements
The table below maps the core obligations to their source, drawn from the Coverage Map's Denmark dataset. Each reference links to its primary source on the Danish Gambling Authority site. Where a requirement is online-only it is marked as such; the rest apply across land-based casino, online casino, and betting.
| Requirement | Reference | Verticals |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory deposit limits Players must set a deposit limit before they begin play. The limit is mandatory and player-set, and applies across licensed online gambling and betting. | Exec. Orders 1274/1276 of 2019 (am. by 682/684 of 2025) | Online · Sports |
| Self-exclusion via ROFUS Every licence holder must connect to ROFUS, the Danish Gambling Authority’s national self-exclusion register. A single registration can exclude the player from all online gambling, land-based casinos, and land-based betting in Denmark. Options: a 24-hour break, 1/3/6 months, or permanent. | ROFUS — national register | Casino · Online · Sports |
| StopSpillet helpline reference The national StopSpillet helpline must be referenced on all platforms and in all marketing. | Responsible Gambling Guide | Casino · Online · Sports |
| Marketing duty of disclosure Marketing must present winning chances correctly, show the age limit, and display ROFUS information. It may not suggest that gambling solves problems, and is subject to targeting restrictions. | Guide on Duty of Disclosure in Marketing | Casino · Online · Sports |
| Game information Operators must provide clear game information to players. | Responsible Gambling Guide v1.4 | Casino · Online · Sports |
| Activity monitoring Operators must monitor player activity and offer player-set limits. | Executive Orders | Online · Sports |
| Minimum age The minimum age is 18 for most gambling. Licensed operators must verify each player’s age and identity at registration. | Gambling Act (Spilleloven) | Casino · Online · Sports |
Legal age and online-gambling status
The minimum age for most gambling in Denmark is 18, and licensed operators must verify each player's age and identity during registration. Online gambling is legal and licensed: since the market opened in 2012, operators may hold an online casino licence, a betting licence, or both to serve Danish players, and every licence holder must connect to the national ROFUS self-exclusion register. Winnings from licensed operators are tax-free for players.
The helpline: StopSpillet
Denmark's national problem-gambling helpline is StopSpillet — run by the Danish Gambling Authority and reachable on +45 70 22 28 25 for free, independent, and confidential counselling. Under the authority's responsible-gambling guidance, StopSpillet must be referenced on all platforms and in all marketing. Players can also reach Center for Ludomani (the Centre for Gambling Addiction) for confidential telephone support and advice.
StopSpillet
Phone +45 70 22 28 25 · chat at StopSpillet.dk. Free, independent, and confidential counselling from the Danish Gambling Authority.
Where it must appear
StopSpillet must be referenced on every platform and in all marketing, alongside the age limit and ROFUS information.
Center for Ludomani
An independent organisation offering confidential phone support and advice for anyone affected by gambling problems, with centres across Denmark.
Both displays below meet the rule. The on-brand version frames the line as open for any question — not only a crisis — while still carrying the required contact details.
Bare compliance
For help with gambling problems, call StopSpillet on +45 70 22 28 25.
The Playbook way
Free, confidential support — for any question about gambling. Call StopSpillet on +45 70 22 28 25 or chat at StopSpillet.dk.
Self-exclusion: ROFUS, one register for the market
Denmark's signature player-protection tool is ROFUS — the Danish Gambling Authority's national self-exclusion register. Every licence holder must connect to it, so a single registration can exclude the player from all licensed online gambling, land-based casinos, and retail betting in Denmark — not just one operator.
| Option | What it does | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary break | A 24-hour break, or 1, 3, or 6 months across all licensed Danish gambling | ROFUS |
| Permanent exclusion | An indefinite exclusion from all licensed Danish gambling | ROFUS |
| Operator connection | All licence holders must connect to ROFUS and deny access to excluded players | ROFUS |
In everyday copy, say "take a break" or "pause your account" for the temporary options. Reserve "ROFUS" and "self-exclusion" for the formal, national register — and when a player asks, be clear that ROFUS covers all licensed Danish gambling at once, online and land-based. Never imply that pausing one account lifts a ROFUS exclusion.
Advertising restrictions
Danish gambling marketing must present winning chances correctly and show the age limit and ROFUS information, and may not suggest that gambling solves problems. Targeting restrictions apply. A 2025–26 advertising reform package, notified to the European Commission in January 2026, adds significant new limits from 1 January 2027.
- Misrepresenting winning chances or odds
- Suggesting that gambling solves financial or personal problems
- From 2027: under-25 individuals appearing in gambling advertising
- From 2027: advertising within 200 metres of a school
- From 2027: live-sports "whistle-to-whistle" gambling advertising
- The age limit (18+) shown in marketing
- ROFUS information presented in marketing
- A reference to the StopSpillet helpline on platforms and in marketing
- Winning chances presented correctly and honestly
Most Playbook content is educational — how games work, odds literacy, myth-busting — so the current rules sit comfortably with it. The guardrails that matter most: present odds honestly, never suggest gambling is a way out of problems, and always carry the 18+ notice, ROFUS information, and a StopSpillet reference. The 2027 reforms tighten who and where, so review any campaign featuring people or live-sports placements well ahead of that date.
Disclosures as fine print
18+. ROFUS. Gamble responsibly.
Disclosures as designed content
18+ | Play on your terms. Need a break? ROFUS.nu. Free, confidential support: StopSpillet +45 70 22 28 25
This page is a summary for content and marketing teams — a map of Denmark's regulatory landscape, not legal advice. The framework is changing: the 2025–26 advertising reform package takes effect on 1 January 2027, and Executive Orders are periodically amended. Operators remain responsible for their own compliance. Confirm current requirements with Spillemyndigheden and qualified counsel before deployment, and test content against the live Coverage Map.