In a recent ruling on August 22, 2024, the Frederiksberg court sided with the Danish Gambling Authority in blocking 79 websites that were reportedly offering illegal gambling services to Danish citizens. These blocked sites included platforms particularly targeting children and young people, raising concerns about the accessibility of gambling to vulnerable groups.
The regulating body’s efforts to shut down illegal gambling sites is a crucial part of its strategy to protect players and ensure a regulated and fair gambling market in Denmark. Every year, the authority takes action against websites that offer gambling products and services to Danes without holding the necessary licenses.
In 2024 alone, a record-breaking 162 websites have been blocked: for illegal gambling activities, surpassing previous years. Since 2012, a total of 438 websites have been blocked to prevent access through Danish telecommunication providers.
The decision to block a website is not taken lightly and is subject to court approval. In 2024, the Danish Gambling Authority has already gone to court twice to obtain orders to block illegal gambling sites. In February, they successfully blocked 83 websites, followed by this latest action in August.
How the Blocking Process Works
The Danish Gambling Authority employs DNS (Domain Name System) blocking to restrict access to illegal gambling sites. This method prevents players from connecting to the gambling provider’s website through their telecommunications provider. If a user tries to access a blocked site, they are greeted with a message from the Danish Gambling Authority stating that the site is illegal and has been blocked.
Despite the blocks, some players may attempt to bypass these restrictions. Recognizing this, the Danish Gambling Authority aims to provide clear warnings when users try to access these sites. “It is very important to us that the information you come across is clear and makes the players aware that they are trying to access a site without a license,” said Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority. He emphasized that these illegal sites do not offer the same level of consumer protection as licensed operators, making them risky for players.
Websites that do not hold a license from the Danish Gambling Authority often fail to meet the rigorous standards required for legal gambling operations. Licensed sites in Denmark are required to provide a certain level of consumer protection and security. For instance, players under 18 or those registered with ROFUS (the Register of Voluntarily Excluded Players) are prohibited from playing on licensed sites. However, such safeguards are not always in place on illegal platforms, increasing the risk for consumers.
New Forms of Illegal Gambling
In the latest round of blocks, 79 sites were targeted, including three websites offering a new form of illegal gambling known as skin betting. Skin betting allows players to wager virtual items such as “Robux,” the in-game currency used in the popular game Roblox. This development is particularly concerning because Roblox is widely played by children and teenagers, some of whom may be under the age of 18.
“Our children should not be introduced to gambling when they play video games, so I am very pleased that we have blocked access to these sites,” Dorph said.
When the Danish Gambling Authority identifies a website offering gambling services without a license, it first requests the provider to cease operations. If the provider does not comply, the Danish telecommunications providers are then asked to block their customers’ access to the site. Should this fail, the case is brought before the court, where the authority seeks an order for the telecom providers to enforce the block.
In the past, only telecommunications providers who were members of Teleindustrien (the Danish telecom industry association) participated in the blocking process. However, in this recent case, three providers outside the association also took part, marking a significant step forward in expanding the reach of these blocks. All three providers blocked access to sites involved in both this and previous court orders.
A Broader Reach
Anders Dorph expressed satisfaction with the increased cooperation from telecom providers, stating, “We are very happy that three more telecommunications providers have closed access. This ensures that even more players are protected from being able to access the illegal sites.”
As the Danish Gambling Authority continues to combat illegal gambling, its focus remains on protecting consumers, especially minors, and ensuring that the gambling market in Denmark remains fair and well-regulated.
Source:
''The Danish Gambling Authority Has Had 79 Illegal Gambling Sites Blocked'', europeangaming.eu, September 06, 2024.
