New Study on Danish Online Gambling Possibilities – November 6th, 2009

The consulting and research firm MECN has combined with the Horten law group to compile a new report that offers an in-depth analysis of Denmark’s gambling market, currently the subject of liberalisation moves that will take it out of the realm of state monopolised gambling.

In a statement this week the MECN Horten team advise that Denmark is one of the first to liberalise its gambling market, with the government one of the first in both the EU and Scandinavia to respond to the growing market share of Internet gambling operators and to the increasing pressure of the European Commission.

In addition to liberalising the online gambling sector, the Danish government plans to open up the retail/land-based betting market, too.

The team say it is still not clear how developments in Denmark will influence the other, more protectionist, Scandinavian states, but it opines that Denmark will certainly be closely watched by these other interested parties to see how it approaches key issues such as private operator actions, taxation and levies and the impact on problem gambling.

MECN believes that private operators with a focus on Scandinavia should definitely participate in Denmark’s liberalised market. They could not only gather valuable experience but also present themselves as trustworthy partners for gambling operations throughout all of Scandinavia by doing so, the company explains.

The MECN-Horten report includes detailed analyses of relevant aspects, including an overview of the liberalisation process and content of the draft law, with insights into key details, along with an assessment of all sectors of the Danish gambling market: interactive/online gambling, betting, lottery, gambling machines, and casinos. Current market statistics – up to 2008 – are included, together with legal, regulatory and tax information.