Denmark Opens Applications for Land-Based Casino Licenses

COPENHAGEN, Denmark: The Danish Gambling Authority has opened applications for land-based casino licenses. The process gives existing operators and potential entrants until November 3 to submit proposals for permits lasting up to 10 years.

Denmark currently has seven active land-based casino licenses across six cities. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered, according to the regulator’s official licensing announcement.

Applications Close November 3

Interested parties must provide a completed application and the supporting documents required by Spillemyndigheden. The regulator has not announced how many licenses it expects to award or whether the process will result in new venues, renewed permissions or changes to the current casino market.

Danish gambling law allows land-based casino licenses to be issued for periods of up to 10 years. The country’s seven active permissions cover casinos in Copenhagen S, Copenhagen V, Helsingør, Odense, Vejle, Aarhus and Aalborg.

Each application will be sent to the relevant municipality and local chief of police for consultation. The Ministry of Taxation and Ministry of Business will also be asked to comment, while the Danish Maritime Authority may be consulted when an application falls within its responsibilities.

The regulator has not provided a timetable for decisions after the November deadline. Applicants will therefore have to wait for the consultation and assessment process before learning whether they have secured permission to establish or continue operating a casino.

Applicants Face Financial and Local Reviews

Spillemyndigheden said it will place particular emphasis on whether an applicant can operate a casino in a professionally and financially responsible manner. Relevant experience in gambling, casino management expertise and access to sufficient liquidity will form part of the review.

Applicants must also provide information about ownership, corporate structure, directors and board members. The regulator will examine the proposed casino’s location, expected customer base, size, layout and detailed business plan, along with public order considerations.

Operating a land-based casino involves significant property, staffing, security and compliance costs. The financial review is intended to establish whether an applicant has enough capital and access to funding to maintain operations throughout the license period.

The licensing notice does not indicate that Denmark has set a fixed target for additional casinos. Geographic considerations and the likely customer base could limit the number or location of successful projects even if several new operators apply.

Retail Casinos Hold 3% Market Share

The licensing window opens as Denmark’s land-based casino sector remains considerably smaller than its digital market. The regulator’s 2025 report recorded DKK378 million in gross gaming revenue from physical casinos, down 5.6% from DKK401 million in 2024.

Land-based casinos represented 3% of Denmark’s regulated gambling market during the year. By comparison, online casinos generated DKK4.31 billion and accounted for 38%, becoming the country’s largest gambling segment.

The widening difference reflects a broader shift toward online gambling. Existing coverage of Denmark’s changing gambling revenue mix showed that online activity represented 73% of the overall market in 2025, compared with 33% in 2012.

The authority has not said that the new licensing round is intended to reverse the retail sector’s revenue decline. Its immediate purpose is to assess qualified applications under Denmark’s existing casino laws, with the first indication of operator interest expected after submissions close on November 3.

RELATED TOPICS: Regulation