Denmark Schedules October 2026 Debate on Gambling Reforms with Phased 2027 Rollout
Denmark will debate a gambling reform bill on October 22, 2026, with a phased rollout starting January 2027.Summary
Denmark's Tax and Growth Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt has resubmitted a gambling reform bill for parliamentary debate on October 22, 2026. The legislation introduces a formal duty of care requiring licensed operators to monitor player behaviour, intervene when harm is detected, document responsible gambling procedures, deliver staff training, and regularly assess control effectiveness. New advertising restrictions would prohibit ads portraying gambling as entertainment or life-changing, featuring individuals under 25, or targeting those under 18. A whistle-to-whistle ban would apply to live sports broadcasts, with promotions barred for 10 minutes before and after such events. Outdoor advertising faces limits including a ban on public transport and a 200-metre exclusion zone around schools and universities. Sports club sponsorships and physical venue promotions remain permitted, but affiliates and influencers must follow the same rules. The marketing provisions take effect in July 2027. Penalties become more structured: land-based venues face fines of DKK60,000 for a first breach, DKK80,000 for a second, and possible licence suspension on a third, while online operators face revenue-based sanctions scaled to business size. Regulator Spillemyndigheden would gain expanded authority to block unlicensed intermediary sites targeting Danish consumers. A phased rollout runs between January and October 2027. SCCG advises operators to map current systems against the new duty of care and advertising standards now, noting that stronger black-market enforcement may benefit compliant licensees if penalties are applied consistently.
(Source：Sccg Management)