Denmark Set to Break Up Gaming Monopoly - 05-02-09
>>
May 2 - The Danish government is make huge strides in its plans to reform the country's gambling market, after it announced its plans to deregulate the market this week.
The government said that the sixty year monopoly on Denmark's gambling by Danske Spil will officially be terminated.
The move has actually been welcomed by Danske Spil which will have to pay the state a lot less of the current 30 percent of its takings as a result of deregulation.
In addition, deregulation will now mean that Danske Spil can compete with other companies on an equal playing field and offer other games besides its current product line.
"It will be nice to get some clarity on the issue after so many years of uncertainty," said the Managing Director of Danske Spil, H.C. Madsen. "We'll also be able to offer casino gambling and poker now, which we couldn't do before."
The changes are coming due to pressure by the European Commission, which threatened the country with a lawsuit for going against the free trade market regulations of the European Union.
For several years now, the Danish laws have been challenged in international courts by gambling operators such as Ladbrokes who are doing all they can to get into the market.
The reform in the law could mean that foreign companies can start advertising in Denmark in the near future.
According to the local media, the government will still maintain a monopoly over scratch cards and the Lotto.
