On 26 June 2025, a landmark decision was handed down by the Frederiksberg court: 178 unauthorised gambling websites were deemed illegal and immediately blocked for Danish internet users. These platforms offered Danish players unlicensed gambling, bypassing national regulations. Local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were instructed to impose a block via their DNS systems, preventing any connection to these sites and redirecting visitors to an official page explaining the ban.
This action represents the highest number of blockings since the initiative was launched in 2012. The previous peak was in 2024, when 83 sites were blocked.
Why such an increase?
Since 2023, the Spillemyndigheden (Danish Gaming Authority) has doubled the pace: two legal actions are now taken each year, compared with just one previously. This proactive strategy is designed to limit consumer exposure to unregulated operators.
Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gaming Authority:
“It is of course frustrating that illegal gambling sites targeting Danes continue to appear. But I’m very pleased that we have the tools to find these sites and manage to block them. In 2023, we took the initiative to block websites twice a year instead of once. This means we can shut down access more quickly to sites that don’t have a Danish licence and where consumers don’t have the same protection as with licensed gaming providers.”
He also highlights the legal and financial protection that licences, coupled with strict regulation, guarantee players.
Under the bonnet: how does it work?
The process begins with identification: the Spillemyndigheden monitors the market via automated systems and reports received from citizens and businesses. Suspected sites are contacted and asked to comply. In most cases, this has no effect.
If they refuse, the Authority takes the matter to court. The Frederiksberg court examines the complaint; if it upholds it, the ISPs install a DNS block. Internet users are then automatically redirected to a ban notification.
What defines an illegal site?
A site is considered to be aimed at Denmark if it demonstrates a clear desire to attract Danish players:
- Interface or customer service in Danish,
- Possibility of payment in Danish kroner,
- Payment options reserved for Denmark,
- Promotion of local sporting events.
The figures: how far have we got?
Since 2012, more than 616 illegal websites have been blocked. This new record illustrates the growing power of Spillemyndigheden’s regular and targeted actions.
Already in 2024, 162 sites had been neutralised (83 in February and 79 in August), marking a historic year. Prior to that, one-off actions (49 sites in 2023, 82 in 2022) had highlighted the benefits of six-monthly monitoring.
A strategy of transparency and protection
In addition to blocking sites, the Authority is focusing on signage: all legal operators must display their official label, clearly visible on their website. This mark of trust ensures that users are strictly supervised. Unauthorised use of this label will also be penalised.
At the same time, more and more personal protection tools are being developed. One of them, ROFUS, the national self-exclusion register, had more than 60,000 subscribers by May 2025, a strong sign of collective responsibility in the face of the risk of dependency.
The proliferation of blockades and preventive measures marks a turning point in the regulation of online gambling in Denmark. Every six months, new high-risk sites will be identified and taken out of use.