Denmark Opens Licensing Window to Expand Land-Based Casino Market

Denmark Opens New Licensing Window for Land-Based Casinos – Government Seeks to Expand Market Beyond Seven Venues

Key Takeaways

• The Danish Gaming Authority has opened a three-month window for new land-based casino permit applications.
• Applications must be submitted by 3 November.
• Permits will be valid for ten years and require multiple regulatory approvals.
• Denmark currently has seven licensed land-based casinos.
• Online gambling accounted for 73 percent of Denmark’s DKK11.52 billion gambling revenue in 2025.

Danish Gaming Authority Opens Three-Month Licensing Window

The Danish Gaming Authority has begun accepting applications for new land-based casino permits as part of a defined three-month licensing window. Prospective operators have until 3 November to submit their applications.

The initiative is aimed at increasing the number of physical casinos in Denmark. At present, the country has seven active land-based casino licenses. By opening the market to additional operators, the regulator is seeking to expand this segment beyond its current footprint.

For companies considering entry into Denmark’s regulated gambling market, the timeline is fixed and relatively short. Operators must prepare and submit full applications before the early November deadline. After that point, the current window will close.

Ten-Year Permits Subject to Multi-Level Approval

The new permits will be valid for ten years. However, approval is contingent on meeting strict licensing requirements.

Applicants must obtain approval from the local municipality where the proposed casino venue will be located. In addition, they require approval from the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Business and Industry. This multi-level review process means that operators must satisfy both local and national regulatory standards before they can begin operations.

The structure reflects Denmark’s established approach to gambling regulation, which combines sector-specific oversight by the Danish Gaming Authority with broader governmental supervision. For operators, this means compliance obligations extend beyond a single regulator.

Current Land-Based Casino Footprint in Denmark

Denmark’s existing seven land-based casinos are located in Copenhagen South, Copenhagen West, Helsingor, Odense, Vejle, Aarhus, and Aalborg.

These venues represent the entire physical casino market in the country under the current licensing framework. Any successful applicants from the new licensing window would increase the number of brick-and-mortar casinos beyond these seven locations.

The geographic distribution shows that land-based casinos are spread across multiple regions, including the capital area and major provincial cities. The addition of new licenses could further diversify the market’s physical presence, depending on where successful applicants receive municipal approval.

Online Gambling Dominates Denmark’s Regulated Market

While the focus of the new licensing window is on physical casinos, Denmark’s gambling market is currently dominated by online activity.

In 2025, total annual gambling revenue in Denmark reached DKK11.52 billion. Of this amount, 73 percent came from online gambling. By comparison, land-based casinos generated DKK378 million in annual revenue.

These figures show a significant difference in scale between digital and physical gambling channels. Online gambling accounts for the clear majority of regulated gambling revenue, while land-based casinos represent a smaller share of the overall market.

For international readers evaluating gambling markets, this revenue split highlights the relative weight of different verticals within Denmark’s regulated environment. Even with potential expansion in the land-based segment, online gambling remains the dominant revenue driver.

Implications for Operators and Market Participants

The opening of a new licensing window creates a defined opportunity for operators that are interested in entering Denmark’s land-based casino market. The ten-year duration of the permits offers long-term operational certainty for successful applicants, subject to compliance with all regulatory requirements.

At the same time, the data on revenue distribution underscores the competitive and structural context in which new physical casinos would operate. With online gambling accounting for nearly three quarters of total gambling revenue in 2025, any expansion of the land-based segment would take place in a market where digital channels are already well established.

For companies active in both online and land-based gambling, the development may form part of a broader strategy to strengthen brand presence across multiple channels. For purely land-based operators, the new permits represent a regulated pathway into a market that has so far been limited to seven licensed venues.

Our Assessment

The Danish Gaming Authority has formally opened a time-limited process to expand the country’s land-based casino sector. With seven existing venues and a market where online gambling accounts for 73 percent of DKK11.52 billion in annual revenue, the new ten-year permits aim to increase the number of physical casinos under strict regulatory oversight. The application deadline of 3 November defines the immediate next step for prospective operators seeking entry into Denmark’s regulated land-based market.