Denmark’s 2026 Land-Based Casino Licensing Round
The licensing window reportedly closes on 3 November 2026 for ten-year licences, as physical casino revenue keeps falling
Last verified: 2026-10-05
Denmark has seven licensed land-based casinos, whose revenue fell 5.6% to DKK 378 million in 2025; trade press reports the Danish Gambling Authority reopened licensing on 3 August 2026, with applications due by 3 November 2026.
Land-based casino licensing round (2026)
What is happening
Denmark has seven licensed land-based casinos. Under the Gambling Act the Danish Gambling Authority can grant land-based casino licences for up to ten years, and trade press reports that on 3 August 2026 it reopened its licensing process for new applicants and for renewals, with complete applications due by 3 November 2026. This pass could not open the Authority’s own notice, so the dates and the consultation process (municipality, police chief and ministries) are shown as unverified.
The context is a shrinking physical market. Land-based casino gross gaming revenue was DKK 378 million in 2025, 3% of the market, down 5.6% on 2024 and 35% on 2012, while online casino reached DKK 4,309 million. Land-based casinos pay 45% duty on gross gaming revenue, plus 30% above an indexed threshold. Bill L 127 would have added dice games and wheels of fortune to the games a land-based casino can offer, but it lapsed and is not law. After the 3 November 2026 deadline, check the Authority’s announcements for decisions.
Land-based casino licence terms and permitted games in the Gambling Act. [1]
Land-based casino revenue and licence numbers from the Authority’s 2025 market report. [2]
Key facts
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Verified
Land-based casino licences can be granted for up to ten years and permit roulette, baccarat, punto banco, blackjack, poker and slot machines; casinos must be open to the public and only people over 18 may enter (§§14-15).
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Verified
In 2025 seven land-based casino licences were in force, and land-based casino gross gaming revenue was DKK 378 million (3% of the market), down DKK 23 million or 5.6% on 2024 and down 35% since 2012, with average monthly revenue of DKK 32 million.
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Verified
Land-based casinos pay gambling duty of 45% of gross gaming revenue (after deducting the value of gaming tokens in the tronc), plus 30% above a progression threshold of DKK 5,020,100 in 2026 and DKK 5,166,400 in 2027, and an annual licence fee that depends on taxable revenue in five steps from DKK 143,200 to DKK 1,193,800 at the 2010 price level.
Danish Ministry of Taxation (svmn.dk), Danish Ministry of Taxation (retsinformation.dk)
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Verified
Bill L 127 proposed adding dice games and wheels of fortune to the games a land-based casino may offer (§14(1)); the bill lapsed and this is not law.
Danish Ministry of Taxation (retsinformation.dk), Danish Ministry of Taxation (retsinformation.dk)
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Unverified
The Danish Gambling Authority reopened land-based casino licensing on 3 August 2026, with complete applications due by 3 November 2026 and later applications not considered; each application is put to consultation with the municipality, the police chief and the ministries, and criteria reported include professional and financial soundness, liquidity and a detailed project. Trade press reports these details quoting the Authority’s notice, which this pass did not open.
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Unverified
The seven licensed land-based casinos are reported to be in Copenhagen S, Copenhagen V, Helsingør, Odense, Vejle, Aarhus and Aalborg; trade press reports this from the Authority’s notice, which this pass did not open.
Sources
- Danish Ministry of Taxation (retsinformation.dk)Primary source — LBK nr 1182 af 22/09/2025: Bekendtgørelse af lov om spil (Gambling Act, consolidated) — https://www.retsinformation.dk/api/pdf/244581
- Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden)Primary source — The Gambling Market in Numbers 2025 (annual market report, June 2026) — https://spillemyndigheden.dk/media/n30foncu/the-gambling-market-in-numbers-2025.pdf