Denmark updates anti-money laundering requirements, combatting illegal operators

Denmark has implemented legislative changes that will affect operators providing services throughout the European Union (EU).

The changes are part of a move to regulate gambling in the Scandinavian nation, especially for providers based in the country, which may have their online premises operate in multiple locations.

The news was released by the Danish Gambling Authority, which falls under the remit of the Danish Ministry of Taxation.

Tax and gambling often go hand-in-hand across Europe, as registering an operator forms a significant part of the financial windfall that nations receive from allowing these entertainment entities to operate within their borders.

Since 2010, the Danish Gambling Authority has sought “a fair and well-regulated gambling market with responsible gambling operators by issuing relevant licenses, conducting risk-based supervision, and providing guidance.”

The new legislative change will not affect Danish operators that only have premises in the nation. It specifically targets those who use the nation as a base of operations to provide services in other nations.

“Gambling operators covered by section 1(1)(19) of the Danish Anti-Money Laundering Act, who are established in Denmark and provide gambling in other EU and EEA countries, will now be subject to registration in the Danish Gambling Authority’s Money Laundering Register as of 1 July 2025. This is stated in Executive Order No. 239 of 27 January 2025.”

This new regulatory move comes swiftly on the back of a ban on 178 websites that “offer gambling illegally” to Danish citizens. A Frederiksberg court ruled in favour of the Danish Gambling Authority, bringing the total number of blocked sites in the nation to 616 since 2012.

Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority, said, “We took the initiative to have the sites blocked twice a year instead of once. This means that we can more quickly shut down access to sites that do not have a Danish licence and where consumers do not have the same protection as those gambling operators who have a licence.”

Featured image: Pixlr AI-generated.

The post Denmark updates anti-money laundering requirements, combatting illegal operators appeared first on ReadWrite.