On Monday, the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) launched a public awareness initiative aimed at educating parents about gambling-like elements found in children’s video games. This campaign, titled “Casino in the Children’s Room,” aims to shift the conversation surrounding youth digital habits from simply tracking screen time to examining the actual content and mechanics within these games.
Many widely played video games for children incorporate features that resemble traditional gambling, such as loot boxes, chance-based rewards, and in-game purchases. Anders Dorph, the director of the Danish Gambling Authority, pointed out that discussions often focus on the time children spend gaming, but it’s crucial to also understand how the reward systems within these games may psychologically impact young players. "The debate about children and digital media is often about screen time. But it is also important to take an interest in the content of the games and the mechanisms that children encounter when they game," Dorph stated.
The campaign includes a short film that artistically transforms a child’s bedroom into a casino setting, showcasing how gambling concepts and reward systems are embedded in games targeted at youth. In addition to the film, the Authority is promoting StyrPåSpillet.dk, a knowledge platform that offers in-depth insights into gaming, gambling features present in games, the risks of gambling addiction, and tips for parents on how to discuss gaming with their children.
To enhance public engagement, the regulator has also placed three temporary storefront displays resembling casinos in prominent locations: Bruuns Galleri in Aarhus, Vestergade in Odense, and Købmagergade in Copenhagen. These displays, titled “Casino Kids,” are designed to encourage parents and onlookers to consider whether the games played by children contain gambling-like attributes.
Denmark follows other countries in highlighting the potential dangers of gambling-like features in games for minors. A report released last year by the Swedish gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, established a connection between underage gambling through video games and subsequent risky gambling behaviors in young adults. It found that 87% of individuals who had purchased loot boxes before turning 15 exhibited problematic gambling tendencies in adulthood.
Denmark's campaign coincides with the government’s recent announcement regarding the re-submission of a bill, initially proposed in October 2025, aimed at regulating gambling advertisements directed at minors. Key proposals include banning anyone under 25 from appearing in gambling advertisements and implementing a comprehensive ban on such promotions during live sports broadcasts. The gambling industry reacted strongly to this reform package, with Morten Rønde, managing partner at Nordic Legal, expressing his shock at the proposed measures.
