Gambling Revenue in Denmark: A Notable Low for June
In June, Denmark’s gambling sector experienced a significant downturn, with total revenue reaching DKK585 million (approximately $91.3 million). This marks a 17% decline from the previous year, largely attributable to a sharp drop in sports betting activity, exacerbated by the comparison to last year’s Euro 2024 football tournament.
According to recent data from the national regulator, Spillemyndigheden, this month’s figures fell short of the DKK703 million reported in June 2024 and were also 14.4% lower than the revenue generated in May of this year.
Online Casino Revenue Defies the Trend
Despite the overall decline, online casinos emerged as a key revenue generator, bringing in DKK333 million—a 10% year-on-year growth. Within this segment, slot machines dominated, contributing DKK273 million, amounting to a staggering 82% of the total online revenue. Other games such as blackjack and roulette generated DKK21 million and DKK20 million, respectively, while poker and bingo contributed smaller figures of DKK8 million each.
Conversely, sports betting witnessed a dramatic drop, plummeting 53.5% to DKK126 million. This stark decline is largely due to the absence of major events like Euro 2024, which had previously boosted betting activity, especially as the Danish national team participated in the tournament. Interestingly, mobile betting accounted for a significant 70.4% of total sports betting revenue during this period.
Declines in Land-Based Gambling
The land-based gambling sector also faced challenges, with data revealing a decrease in revenue from physical slot machines, which fell 6.5% to DKK92 million—marking the lowest monthly total since September of the previous year. Within this segment, nearly 80% of revenues were drawn from machines located in gaming halls, while the remaining 20% came from terminals in restaurants.
Land-based casino revenues decreased slightly by 2.2% to DKK32 million. Bingo activities attracted just over DKK2 million, although there wasn’t a year-on-year comparison available for this revenue stream.
Rise in Self-Exclusion Registrations
In addition to revenue figures, the latest report indicated a rise in self-exclusion registrations through Denmark’s national ROFUS scheme. By the end of June, the number of individuals opting to self-exclude increased to 62,400. Notably, a majority of these individuals were men, accounting for 78.4% of the total registrations. Additionally, a substantial 64.4% of registrants chose to impose permanent exclusions on their gambling activities.
As the gambling landscape continues to evolve, these trends reflect a complex interplay between changing consumer behaviors, regulatory impacts, and the effects of seasonal sports events.