In 2025, online casinos officially surpassed lotteries to become the largest segment of the gambling industry in Denmark, as revealed in the latest annual market review from the Danish Gambling Authority, Spillemyndigheden. This finding, reported in the annual document Spilmarkedet i tal 2025, marks a significant milestone for the Danish gambling sector, which has undergone partial liberalization since 2012.
The report adjusted gross gambling revenue figures to reflect 2026 price levels and aligned them with GDP measures, which has resulted in discrepancies when comparing 2025 data to previous years. Publication of the updated channelisation report has been postponed until later in 2026 due to ongoing data verification processes.
The total gross gambling revenue for Denmark in 2025 reached DKK11.5 billion ($1.75 billion), reflecting a slight decrease of 1% (DKK116 million) compared to 2024. When adjusted for inflation and economic growth, this marks a 4.9% decline since 2012.
Online casinos generated the highest gross gaming revenue (GGR) at DKK4.31 billion, making up 38% of the market. This figure represents a 12.1% increase (DKK465 million) year-on-year and shows a remarkable growth of 139% since 2012. Meanwhile, monopoly lotteries, which include Lotto and Klasselotterier, accounted for DKK3.49 billion (30% of the market), experiencing a decline of 6.2% (DKK230 million) from 2024.
Sports betting reported a fall of 11.5% (DKK277 million), totaling DKK2.13 billion and comprising 19% of the market. Slot machines contributed with DKK1.18 billion, which is 10% of the total GGR and reflects a 6.8% decrease (DKK86 million) year-on-year. Land-based casinos faced a 5.6% decline, generating a GGR of DKK378 million, which represents only 3% of the market, while newly legalized land-based bingo produced a modest GGR of DKK30 million.
In 2025, online gambling dominated, making up 73% of the total GGR, a rise from 70% in 2024 and significantly up from just 33% in 2012. Mobile devices were the primary avenue for online gambling, accounting for 73% of online revenue compared to 27% in 2012. Online slots constituted 82% of online casino revenue, generating DKK3.54 billion, with roulette and blackjack making up around 6% of the total online casino revenue.
The iGaming market saw expansion, highlighted by Digitain's entry in May. Arshak Muradyan, the group chief compliance officer at Digitain, noted the importance of Denmark's strong compliance standards in supporting their growth strategy.
By the end of 2025, Spillemyndigheden had issued 1,970 licenses across various gambling categories, including 41 licenses for online casinos, 27 for betting, and permits for physical slot machines nationwide. The report indicated a notable disparity among operators; while the majority recorded GGR under DKK25 million, several leading companies surpassed DKK100 million each.
Concerns regarding responsible gambling continued to grow, with the voluntary exclusion register (ROFUS) increasing to 68,026 individuals, approximately 12,000 more than the previous year. Among registrants, 79% were men and 69% were under 40 years old. StopSpillet, the helpline for problem gambling, received a record 727 inquiries in 2025, the highest since its formation in 2019, with issues mostly linked to online casinos and betting. The average problem gambling severity score was recorded at 5.61 on a 0-9 scale, indicating moderate to severe issues.
The report also showed a decline in lottery revenue from DKK4.83 billion in 2012 to DKK3.49 billion in 2025, a 27.7% drop. Although sports betting peaked in 2018, revenue for 2025 remained 7.6% above 2012 levels despite the recent downturn. Slot machine revenues fell by about 60.5% since 2012, while land-based casino revenues decreased around 35%, significantly impacted by pandemic-related closures from 2020 to 2022.
