According to the latest data from the Denmark Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden), the Danish gambling market experienced significant growth in August 2024, with total expenditures nearing 571 million Danish kroner (84 million USD), a year-over-year increase of 4.3%.
This growth was primarily driven by online casino spending, despite declines in other gambling sectors.
Online Casinos Lead the Danish Gambling Market
In August 2024, online casino revenues increased by 20.8% year-over-year, reaching 299 million Danish kroner. This indicates that Danish gamblers are increasingly turning to online platforms. Not only is this higher than the data from August 2023, but it also represents a 5.3% increase from July. The spending on online casinos in Denmark has been steadily rising, with August's revenue nearing the record for monthly online gambling revenue set in March 2024 (309 million Danish kroner).
The increase in online casino spending coincided with changes introduced by the Denmark Gambling Authority. Poker is now listed as a separate category within online casinos, providing more detailed insights into the market. This new classification system, which has been retroactively applied since 2012, further divides the online casino segment into six types of games: slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker, bingo, and others.
Betting and Physical Gambling Facing Decline
While online casinos are thriving, other gambling sectors in Denmark are experiencing declines. Sports betting revenue in August decreased by 14% year-over-year, falling to 147 million Danish kroner, and also saw a 1.3% decrease from July 2024.
The physical gambling sector, including physical slot machines and casinos, also faces challenges. Slot machine revenue decreased by 0.2%, amounting to 96 million Danish kroner, while physical casino revenue fell by 12%, dropping to 29 million Danish kroner. These figures continue the trend of declining revenue in Danish physical gambling venues, indicating a gradual shift towards online platforms.
Furthermore, the Denmark Gambling Authority released data on the national self-exclusion program (ROFUS). As of the end of August 2024, over 51,893 individuals had registered for the self-exclusion program, a 12.4% increase from the same period in 2023. Of these, 77.3% are male, with 66.6% opting for permanent exclusion.
