The Danish Gambling Authority, also known as Spillemyndigheden, has obtained court approval to block access to 98 websites offering unlicensed and illegal gambling services in Denmark. Among these sites, Polymarket stands out, as it has recently faced increased scrutiny by regulators across Europe.
This decision follows a process initiated by Spillemyndigheden, which first sent warnings to the operators of these sites, allowing them a chance to cease their unlicensed activities. When the operators failed to comply, the regulator sought judicial authorization for DNS blocking.
Spillemyndigheden emphasized that these websites target the Danish market specifically, featuring Danish-language content, accommodating payments in Danish kroner, utilizing local payment methods, and providing customer support in Danish. According to the authority, only operators with proper licensing are allowed to conduct gambling activities within Denmark. Licensed operators are required to display their gambling license mark, and customers can verify the legitimacy of a service by checking the official list provided by the regulator.
The authority also cautioned that illegal gambling sites could easily change their domain addresses, underscoring the importance for users to confirm the legal status of any site before engaging.
Following this recent enforcement action, a total of 870 websites have now been banned in Denmark. The approach of DNS blocking represents a primary strategy used by authorities to combat illegal gambling, though operators can quickly move to new domain names.
The inclusion of Polymarket in this recent block highlights the heightened focus regulators in Europe have placed on prediction markets, with Denmark considering how to approach gambling opportunities for its citizens without proper licensing.
