Part 3: Denmark – on track in first quarter
Weekly betting patterns proposals that would see bonuses capped
The World Cup betting figures will have been at DKK1,000 or about €133. Bonus requirements
helped by the first match occurring on the first would also be capped at 10 times the original
Saturday of the tournament. In the first quarter, stake and there will be a voluntary code on
the day of the week with the biggest percentage advertising, including a watershed before
of turnover on average was unsurprisingly which gambling ads would be banned.
Saturday, with more than 19% of all bets placed Operators will also face restrictions on their
and more than 18% of turnover (see Chart 18). ability to approach inactive players with
Such data are obvious enough given the weekly
schedule of sporting events during the week in
Europe, particularly football.
bonuses to encourage them to reactivate
their accounts.
The tax minister Karsten Lauritzen was
quoted as saying that the government felt
The future that it “must do our best to prevent players
There are obvious limits to how much an online from developing game dependence”.
market can grow regardless of the stimulants The measures were not as bad as had first
of new products and new providers. Much as been proposed by the socialist party, which
there are positive messages from the current had wanted to ban bonuses altogether, but
rate of growth across both betting and gaming, the measures are sure to have an impact,
the well-publicised moves to potentially limit particularly on any prospective new
advertising are bound to have an effect on future market entrants.
prospects. It is almost certainly the case that the
Still, it remains a warning shot across
second quarter will continue the trend upwards the bows of the Danish operators. As a
and maybe the rest of the year will likewise be spokesperson for the ministry was also quoted
positive. But moves on the legislative front could as saying: “The message here is, ‘take care of
well impact the figures. the vulnerable. If you can’t manage this
In July political parties from across the
spectrum in Denmark agreed on a package of
agreement, we are ready to regulate or have
new legislation.’” It is a fair warning.
Chart 18: Weekly betting patterns by number of bets (%) and turnover (%)
Source: DGA
iGaming Business Market Monitor • UK, Spain and Denmark • September 2018
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