The year 2024 saw the Danish gambling market experienced a remarkable surge. Gross gambling revenue (GGR) saw a growth of 6.9% year-on-year. According to Denmark’s gambling authority, Spillemynigeden, total revenue reached DKK7.27 billion (around $1.20 billion), up from DKK6.80 billion in 2023. This growth shows how the gambling scene is changing in Denmark, with online casinos and crypto casinos driving this.
Online Casinos Dominate in Denmark
The primary driving force behind the growth in Denmark was online casino platforms. These were responsible for generating an impressive DKKK3.53 billion across 2024. This represents a 14.7% increase when compared to the previous year, and this makes online casinos the biggest contributor to what was achieved by the entire gambling industry in Denmark.
Breaking down the online segment, slots were the most popular game and these accounted for a massive 78.2% of total online casino revenue. Traditional table games such as blackjack (6.7%) and roulette (6.4%) were significantly behind, with poker, bingo, and other games making up the remainder.
For players who are looking to find out exactly what’s led to this growth and what the experience has to offer, the best online casinos in Denmark can be found through casino comparison platforms like online-casinos.com, which listed the best operators for Danish players. These are platforms that feature top-tier security, a wide variety of games, and support for innovative features, such as crypto payments.
The shift towards online gambling platforms in Denmark reflects what is happening on a global scale. The convenience offered by online casinos is matched by new levels of immersion, with games more engaging than ever.
The Rise of Crypto Casinos in Denmark
One of the major trends during 2024 was the growing presence of crypto casinos in Denmark. With cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, becoming more mainstream, operators have made the move to provide gaming environments that are crypto-friendly.
Crypto casinos come with a host of advantages for players. These include factors such as:
- Enhanced privacy
- Faster transactions
- Lower fees
With Danish players becoming more crypto-savvy, the availability of platforms that support blockchain-based gameplay is set to grow even more as we head through 2025 and beyond.
Crypto Payment Gateways Leading to the Best Online Casino Experience
A key player in the rise of crypto casinos is the integration of crypto payment solutions and gateways in place of more traditional options. These gateways allow for seamless transactions using digital assets and remove the reliance on traditional banking intermediaries. Operators that have taken steps to embrace the likes of CoinPayments, BitPay, and Binance Pay have seen spikes in engagement from players in Denmark.
The use of crypto payment solutions is also helping to bring added trust and confidence to the gambling sector. That’s because they bring enhanced levels of security, as well as allowing for anonymous play. These factors are making crypto casinos popular, but they are also adding to the overall growth that can be seen in the industry.
Sports Betting and Land-Based Casinos
It’s clear to see that online casinos have soared over the last year but when looking at the wider Danish gambling industry, there are mixed results.
Sports betting ranks second in terms of the revenue generated. However, increases in 2024 were only marginal, with an uptick of 1.2% to DKK2.21 billion. This segment was dominated by mobile platforms, which were responsible for 70.4% of revenue. Desktop betting made up 15.1%, while land-based betting accounted for 14.5%.
Growth in land-based casinos was relatively modest, with an increase of 1.7%. This saw revenue of DKK368 million being generated. The big surprise here was that physical slots saw a decline. These games are usually a stronghold of the gambling industry, but revenue dipped by 1.2% to DKK1.16 billion. More information on this can be found on the Spillemyndigheden official website, as this holds all the details of regulated gambling in Denmark.
The figures recorded in Denmark are a clear reflection of a broader trend. While digital and mobile platforms are continuing to thrive, land-based operators are experiencing real struggles. There’s a need for them to innovate and modernise if they are to have a long-term future.
How December 2024 Showcased Annual Trends
During the last month of the year, we were provided with a snapshot of the year’s overall performance. During this time, Denmark’s total gambling revenue for the month reached DKK670 million. This was a 0.8% increase compared to December 2023.
It was online casinos again that were the real stand out, responsible for generating DKK347 million. This represented a 13.6% increase year-on-year. Land-based casinos enjoyed a slight bump with an increase of 2.2%, taking them to DK35 million. Despite this, physical slots experienced a 1.7% slump, falling to DKK98 million. Sports betting revenue was the hardest hit, falling by 15.7% to DKK191 million.
Responsible Gambling and Regulatory Oversight
Denmark has long been praised for its approach to gambling. It has markets that are fully regulated and wholly transparent. The national regulator, Spillemyndigheden, has strict compliance rules that are focused on protecting users and ensuring fair play.
Licensed operators must adhere to a host of responsible gambling guidelines as part of player protection measures. This includes the likes of deposit limits, reality checks, and self-exclusion. As well as this, platforms are subject to regular audits to ensure compliance. These factors all come together and make Denmark one of the safest jurisdictions for players, with a market that maintains its integrity.
Players are encouraged to only ever play at licensed casinos so that they can utilise responsible gambling tools whenever they are required.
Market Outlook for 2025
As we continue to progress through 2025, there are no signs of Denmark’s gambling industry slowing down. We can expect to see further growth in online casinos, especially as crypto options and the mobile-first approach continue to gain momentum.
While there is praise for the regulatory framework in place in Denmark, there’s potentially the need for this to adapt so that it can cover the increasing use of crypto. This is vital if the country wants to maintain its reputation for providing one of the safest gaming environments in the world.
Final Thoughts
Denmark’s gambling industry has seen significant growth during 2024. With online casinos leading the way, physical slots and land-based sports betting are struggling to remain relevant. The emergence of crypto casinos has added a new dimension here and will certainly fuel further growth in years to come.
