The gaming industry in Denmark experienced a significant upswing in the initial three months of 2016, with wagering on sporting events and internet-based gaming platforms generating a combined 975 million Danish kroner. This signifies a substantial 30% rise in comparison to the corresponding timeframe in the preceding year.
This rapid expansion was primarily propelled by digital betting and virtual casinos, which constituted a considerable 78% of the overall earnings, as reported by Spillemyndigheden, the Danish regulatory body for gambling.
Wagers placed on sporting events witnessed a particularly noteworthy surge, with earnings leaping by 33% to reach 585 million Danish kroner. Internet-based platforms held a dominant position in this domain, representing 64% of all bets placed on sports.
Virtual casinos were not far behind, demonstrating remarkable expansion exceeding 25% compared to the first quarter of 2015, attaining 390 million Danish kroner.
Intriguingly, despite online poker revenue remaining stable at approximately 40 million Danish kroner over the preceding two years, other internet-based casino games propelled the remarkable expansion in this sector.
Unsurprisingly, slot machines emerged as the clear frontrunner among online casino games, securing a dominant 68% share of the market, while poker significantly trailed behind with a mere 12%.
As of April 2016, Denmark boasts a total of 27 licensed gaming providers, with 15 holding authorizations for wagering and 25 for internet-based casinos.
Traditional, land-based casinos also witnessed a positive uptick in revenue, ascending from 7.5 million to 9.5 million Danish kroner within the first quarter.
Denmark is home to seven physical casinos, encompassing distinctive venues such as the casino situated on the “Pearl Seaways” ferry that traverses between Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo, Norway.