The recent Gaming in the Nordics Launch Event at Better Collective's headquarters in Copenhagen showcased the prominent role that Nordic markets play within Europe's iGaming ecosystem. Morten Ronde, CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association and Partner at Nordic Legal, highlighted that the combination of Scandinavian pragmatism and openness to innovation positions these markets as pioneers for the next wave of iGaming regulation.
Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish regulatory body Spillemyndigheden, emphasized the importance of operator compliance, the impact of Big Tech, and effective player monitoring. He remarked that Danish-licensed operators are eager to comply with regulations: "The industry [in Denmark] wants to be compliant. And that is a fact.”
The conversations continued with insights from Pontus Lindwall, CEO of Betsson, and Jesper Kärrbrink, CEO of Immense Group, who shared their perspectives on the Nordic marketplace's challenges and opportunities, offering valuable lessons on iGaming regulation. Lindwall identified three essential elements for a healthy market that promotes high player channelization: first, a competitive product; second, meaningful protections for players; and third, rigorous enforcement. He noted the inherent risks of gambling and stressed the importance of high channelization rates for effective player protection.
"We are in a business where there is harm. We must admit this and reflect on this. We also need to be able to reach these players, which we can only do if they are inside of the regulated system," said Lindwall.
Various stakeholders also contributed to the dialogue, including Jesper Søgaard, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Better Collective; Birgitte Sand, CEO of Birgitte Sand & Associates; Pekka Ilmivalta, Head of Office at Nordic Legal – Finland; Josh Hodgson, COO of H2 Gambling Capital; Daniel Valiollahi, Acting Secretary General of BOS; Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO of Mindway AI; and Jeffrey Haas, Chair of Blask. Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Consultant at QuodBonum.se, served as the day’s chair.
Willem van Oort, the founder of Gaming in the Nordics, expressed his satisfaction with the launch event, stating, "I think the Gaming in the Nordics Launch Event was a fantastic success. The event featured key decision makers and thought leaders from the Nordics. I particularly enjoyed the fact that on several occasions there was a real meeting of the minds among the speakers and other participants. I am very much looking forward to repeating this experience next year on a larger scale."
Though the launch event was exclusive, a full annual Gaming in the Nordics Conference is scheduled for June starting in 2027.
