Gaming in the Nordics Launch Event Highlights Nordic Market Leadership

The Gaming in the Nordics Launch Event recently took place at the Better Collective headquarters in Copenhagen, showcasing the critical role of Nordic markets within Europe's iGaming sector. Morten Ronde, CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association and Partner at Nordic Legal, noted that the combination of Scandinavian pragmatism and a willingness to adopt new ideas positions the Nordic markets as pioneers for the next wave of innovative iGaming regulations. Anders Dorph, the Director of Danish regulator Spillemyndigheden, shared insights about operator compliance, Big Tech's impact, and player monitoring. He emphasized the commitment of Danish-licensed operators, stating, "They are all very eager to be compliant. […] The industry [in Denmark] wants to be compliant. And that is a fact." In terms of a thriving market, Betsson CEO Pontus Lindwall and Immense Group CEO Jesper Kärrbrink addressed both challenges and opportunities in the Nordic landscape, offering valuable operator perspectives on iGaming regulations. Lindwall highlighted three essential elements for a healthy market with high player channelization: 1) competitive products, 2) effective player protections, and 3) actual enforcement. He acknowledged the inherent risks associated with gambling, stressing the importance of high channelization rates for player safety. "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," he stated. The event also featured other significant voices 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; Jeffrey Haas, Chair of Blask, alongside day chair Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Consultant at QuodBonum.se. Willem van Oort, founder of Gaming in the Nordics, expressed satisfaction with the launch event, highlighting its success in bringing together key decision-makers and thought leaders from the region. He noted, "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." Although the launch was an invitation-only affair, an annual Gaming in the Nordics Conference is set to occur in June in Copenhagen starting in 2027.