September 21, 2011

Denmark licence applications due within four weeks

Having received approval from the European Commission to implement its new gambling legislation, the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) has given operators less than four weeks to submit applications for betting and online casino licences in Denmark, which will be valid from January 1st 2012.

Operators wishing to provide gambling services from January 1st must submit their applications no later than by midnight on October 17th. Any applications received after the stated date and time will mean a later starting date.

The Gambling Authority said that as it only has a short time to consider each application and evaluate the conditions for gambling have been met, it will issue all licences with a time limit of one year. The licence holder may expect that the licence will be changed to a five-year licence if the conditions are met after a complete examination of the application.

“It will be stated specifically in the one-year licence that it has been issued on the basis of preliminary examinations and that the applicant can expect the licence to be changed to a five-year licence if the requirements are met after the complete examination,” said the Gambling Authority in a statement Tuesday.

“Furthermore, it will be stated that the Danish Gambling Authority may revoke the licence if as a result of these further examinations or other circumstances it appears that the applicant does not meet the requirements of the Danish Gaming Act.”

Yesterday the European Commission gave Denmark the green light to press ahead with implementing its new gambling legislation after concluding that the proposed lower taxes for online casinos compared to traditional land-based casinos was in line with EU state aid rules.

Under the notification provided to the EC last July, online providers of casino games and slots would be subject to a flat tax of 20 per cent on the gross gaming revenue (GGR), compared to up to 75 per cent for land-based casinos and gaming halls.

The recently formed Danish Gambling Association told Gaming Intelligence that it will make its legal counsel, Moalem Weitemeyer Bendtsen, available to assist operators with the licence application process.

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