Denmark land-based entities to require player registration

The new order – which will enter force from 1 October 2023 – seeks to bring land-based and retail gambling in Denmark into line with the know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) processes that are the standard in online gambling.

“The partial liberalisation and modernisation of the gambling market, with effect from 1 January 2012, as well as experience with the gambling market after liberalisation in 2012, continuously demonstrate the need for new approaches to gambling addiction, for increased consumer protection and for the fight against crime,” reads the executive order.

The executive order also says that – by requiring the registration of players – the anonymity of the consumer is removed, which the bills says helps achieve the country’s goals when it comes to consumer protections, as well as the fights against money laundering and match-fixing.

Denmark has been engaged in a crackdown on money laundering since July 2022.

Players who are under the age of 18, as well as those who have opted to self-exclude from participating in gambling activities will find it more difficult to place bets at the bookmakers under the new rules. The individuals will also be mandated to set a loss limit, which will also aid player protection.

“When anonymity is removed and the purchase of bets is registered to a player, the gambling provider is better placed to monitor and thus forestall and prevent money laundering and match fixing,” says the order.

Responsible gambling measures

The order has a number of subsections that spell out what will be expected of the land-based operators. Companies will be mandated to “become familiar” with a player’s gambling patterns and to step in to prevent an individual’s gaming activity from developing into a case of problem gambling.   

Furthermore, the licence holder will be required to have written internal rules and procedures on responsible gambling “with a view to preventing and preventing problem gambling and gambling addiction”.

According to the rules, this will include communication and control with players who demonstrate traits of problem gambling, a duty to pay attention and record storage of information about player behaviour and consumer risk assessments.

The businesses must also take steps to ensure that no promotional material is sent to players who opted to self-exclude from games of chance.