Tax Minister Considers An End To Danish Gambling Monopoly
April 29th, 2008
The Danish Tax Minister Kristian Jensen is currently investigating whether the Danish gambling monopoly can be brought to an end, enabling foreign gambling companies to advertise and operate legally in Denmark.
Speaking on Danish radio Mr. Jensen said that it was currently illegal for foreign gambling sites to market their products in Denmark, but that an opening up of the market would allow gambling companies to establish their presence alongside that of the state-owned Danske Spil, so long as the companies met the demands of the Danish government.
Under his proposal a license would be required by all foreign gambling companies operating within the country, providing a valuable source of income for sports clubs, youth organisations and other social causes.
Mr. Jensen said that he would like to have a regulated market under organised forms, since current legislation provides the government with little or no control over where Danish citizens are gambling and the flows of gambling money.
According to Mr. Jensen, sportsbetting would be the first market to be opened up to foreign gambling companies, with the Lotto remaining under the government monopoly for the time being.
In March of last year Denmark, along with Finland and Hungary, received a reasoned opinion from the European Commission. The EU considered that the restrictions of the sports betting market were not compatible with existing EU law and that the measures taken by the Member States to restrict the free movement of sports betting services had not been shown to be necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory.
Mr Jensen commented that Denmark would be able to win such a court case, however he believes that this would not provide a solution to the reality of the situation, that Danish citizens are already using numerous illegal gambling sites and will continue to do so.
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