Denmark’s gambling and lottery operator has a new captain at the helm. Peter Christensen, a former member of parliament (MP), has been tapped to lead Danske Spil into a new era of gaming, bringing with him a lot of political experience and connections. Christensen was selected to replace Peter Gæmelke, who is stepping down after ten years on the job and will take the wheel after a unanimous decision by the gaming operator’s board.
danske-spil-has-a-new-leader-after-unanimous-selectionChristensen is a member of the Danish Venstre Liberal Party and served as the country’s Minister of Taxation in 2011 and the Minister of Defense in 2015, according to SBC News. At the time, former Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen was running the show in the country, and Christensen is ready for his new role. He said in a statement, “It is a great privilege to help secure the financial foundation Danish sports and further social directive which I have personally benefited from. It is very important to me that gambling games remain as an entertainment feature. Danske Spil has an important social role in continuing to ensure a balanced and responsible gaming market in Denmark.”
Denmark’s finance minister, Nicolai Wammen, confirmed the appointment of the new chairman this week, which will lead to Christensen bowing out from his involvement with the Det Danske Klasselotteri, a state lottery operator. There, the new Danske Spil head had served as a non-executive director since 2018, and his resignation will take effect sometime during the latter half of this year.
Christensen is going to have his work cut out for him. In addition to having to deal with declining revenue as a result of the coronavirus, 2020 hasn’t been a good year for Danske Spil in general. The operator released its financial report for the first quarter last month, indicating that its year-on-year growth was not as strong as it had hoped. The quarter saw drops in iGaming and gaming machine activity, but these were offset by positive growth in the firm’s lottery operations. Overall, for the quarter, Danske Spil saw $186.3 million in revenue, of which $97 million came from lottery sales.
This year, already having gotten off to a slow start, won’t get any better. Revenue is bound to suffer because of COVID-19, and Denmark has just implemented a new online gambling tax increase that is going to scare off gamblers and push them to use offshore sites. As a result, Danske Spil has to be ready to weather a prolonged storm.
Showing posts with label Danske Spil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Danske Spil. Show all posts
June 24, 2020
January 11, 2012
Danske Spil beats Ladbrokes - and gains the rights to the trademark for "Danske Spil"
The High Court in Denmark has just now sentenced the English game provider Ladbrokes for having violated the marketing law in a lawsuit filed by Danske Spil. Ladbrokes was sentenced because Ladbrokes from May to September 2008 completed a comprehensive marketing campaign in Denmark under the slogan “Danske spil Engelske odds (meaning ”Danish Games English Odds”). The following text was among other things a part of the campaign:
“Hvad er Ladbrokes) (What is Ladbrokes?)
Danske spil (Danish games)
Samme spil/Samme tryghed (Same games/Same safety)
Engelske odds (English odds)
Større gevinst/Bedre service (Bigger winnings/Better service”
At the same time, Ladbrokes stated in a press release that one is overcharged when gambling with the state’s gambling monopoly, and that Ladbrokes offers exactly the same games with equal high safety standard as the state monopoly, however providing far better odds and chances of winnings.
In the sentence, High Court has just now established that Ladbrokes’ campaign was unlawful, and that Ladbrokes thus must accept to having acted against regulations of the marketing law on good costumes and comparable advertisement.
“We are very satisfied with the sentence and welcome the liberalised gambling marked. However, it is important to us that our new competitors play by the rules. Consequently, it is fine that High Court now has defined fair play within the marketing”, says CEO H. C. Madsen, Danske Spil.
At the same time, High Court determined that Danske Spil has the right to the words “Danske Spil”. Although being two common words – “Danske” and “Spil”, which normally would not gain exclusive rights, High Court has resolved that the Danish people associate these words with the business and products of Danske Spil.
Finally, High Court decided that one particular scene from one of Danske Spil’s previous commercials not quite met the requirements of the marketing law. Danske Spil has, however, long since changed the scene in question.
Furthermore, Ladbrokes wished to have Danske Spil sentenced for having violated the EU regulations by encouraging the market to buy Danish. However, High Court acquitted Danske Spil of all charges.
“Hvad er Ladbrokes) (What is Ladbrokes?)
Danske spil (Danish games)
Samme spil/Samme tryghed (Same games/Same safety)
Engelske odds (English odds)
Større gevinst/Bedre service (Bigger winnings/Better service”
At the same time, Ladbrokes stated in a press release that one is overcharged when gambling with the state’s gambling monopoly, and that Ladbrokes offers exactly the same games with equal high safety standard as the state monopoly, however providing far better odds and chances of winnings.
In the sentence, High Court has just now established that Ladbrokes’ campaign was unlawful, and that Ladbrokes thus must accept to having acted against regulations of the marketing law on good costumes and comparable advertisement.
“We are very satisfied with the sentence and welcome the liberalised gambling marked. However, it is important to us that our new competitors play by the rules. Consequently, it is fine that High Court now has defined fair play within the marketing”, says CEO H. C. Madsen, Danske Spil.
At the same time, High Court determined that Danske Spil has the right to the words “Danske Spil”. Although being two common words – “Danske” and “Spil”, which normally would not gain exclusive rights, High Court has resolved that the Danish people associate these words with the business and products of Danske Spil.
Finally, High Court decided that one particular scene from one of Danske Spil’s previous commercials not quite met the requirements of the marketing law. Danske Spil has, however, long since changed the scene in question.
Furthermore, Ladbrokes wished to have Danske Spil sentenced for having violated the EU regulations by encouraging the market to buy Danish. However, High Court acquitted Danske Spil of all charges.
August 09, 2010
Spoiling tactics will not delay entry to Danish market for PartyGaming
PartyGaming chief executive Jim Ryan addressed a number of questions on operational issues facing PartyGaming during his post-results press conference Friday, and one of these concerned the disruption of the PartyGaming – Danske Spil agreement to partner going into a newly liberalised Danish gambling market.
Licensing in Denmark comes into full effect in January 2011, and the b2b partnership would have seen state monopoly Danske Spil provided with online poker and casino products by Ryan’s company. The wheels temporarily came off the project two months ago when rival software producer Playtech launched a successful spoiler complaint in which it claimed that mandatory tender procedures had not been adhered to.
Whilst not making any direct commitments in regard to the Danish market, Ryan stressed that the PartyGaming platform is fully geared up and ready for a Danish launch, and that it may not necessarily include Danske Spil.
“We positioned ourselves hopefully to do business with Danske Spil in future,” Ryan revealed. “At this point in time, we have nothing to announce, but what I can tell you is that we are readying the PartyGaming platform, to launch in Denmark on January 1 2011.”
He added that the trend for European governments to start regulating online gambling represented a good opportunity for his company to grow and compete more effectively with online poker majors like Pokerstars and Full Tilt, which had been taking advantage of PartyGaming’s withdrawal from the US market to build their businesses.
Describing online poker as an intensely competitive market, Ryan said: “However, as we move into regulated markets, particularly ring fenced regulated markets, where competitors can’t bring worldwide liquidity into the equation to compete, we have a level playing field, an opportunity to invest freely in advertising and these factors equal growth.”
Licensing in Denmark comes into full effect in January 2011, and the b2b partnership would have seen state monopoly Danske Spil provided with online poker and casino products by Ryan’s company. The wheels temporarily came off the project two months ago when rival software producer Playtech launched a successful spoiler complaint in which it claimed that mandatory tender procedures had not been adhered to.
Whilst not making any direct commitments in regard to the Danish market, Ryan stressed that the PartyGaming platform is fully geared up and ready for a Danish launch, and that it may not necessarily include Danske Spil.
“We positioned ourselves hopefully to do business with Danske Spil in future,” Ryan revealed. “At this point in time, we have nothing to announce, but what I can tell you is that we are readying the PartyGaming platform, to launch in Denmark on January 1 2011.”
He added that the trend for European governments to start regulating online gambling represented a good opportunity for his company to grow and compete more effectively with online poker majors like Pokerstars and Full Tilt, which had been taking advantage of PartyGaming’s withdrawal from the US market to build their businesses.
Describing online poker as an intensely competitive market, Ryan said: “However, as we move into regulated markets, particularly ring fenced regulated markets, where competitors can’t bring worldwide liquidity into the equation to compete, we have a level playing field, an opportunity to invest freely in advertising and these factors equal growth.”
June 10, 2010
PartyGaming's Danske Spil agreement faces cancellation after Playtech complaint
The Danish Complaints Board for Public Procurement has ruled that PartyGaming’s landmark B2B agreement with Danish monopoly Danske Spil “must be annulled”, after it upheld Playtech’s complaint that the proper tender process was not adhered to.
Danske Spil today announced that the Complaints Board had reached that conclusion on the deal between a specially formed subsidiary of Danske Spil and PartyGaming on the basis that neither the subsidiary nor the country’s egaming legislation existed at the time, meaning it had bypassed specific tender rules.
Danske Spil chief executive HC Madsen stated that Danske Spil had not tried in any way to bypass the rules. “As it was supposed to be entered by a newly formed subsidiary, which was supposed to compete on a partially liberalised gambling marked, we assumed that we were not obliged to perform a tender process as such, but chose a quicker and more flexible tender-like process instead.“
A spokesperson for PartyGaming however termed the setback “a technical blip. It’s quite common with government tenders for the losing party to appeal, which is what happened. It’s the first government tender we have been through, so looking back at the event, we would say we are more wiser”.
But the spokesperson declined to comment on the possibility Playtech’s challenge could delay PartyGaming’s deal to offer casino and poker into the Danish market on a white-label basis.
“We are very experienced at getting these things done quickly. It’s only June, legislation is not due to come in until January. If this was awarded whenever, we can get this going very quickly.”
Danske Spil today announced that the Complaints Board had reached that conclusion on the deal between a specially formed subsidiary of Danske Spil and PartyGaming on the basis that neither the subsidiary nor the country’s egaming legislation existed at the time, meaning it had bypassed specific tender rules.
Danske Spil chief executive HC Madsen stated that Danske Spil had not tried in any way to bypass the rules. “As it was supposed to be entered by a newly formed subsidiary, which was supposed to compete on a partially liberalised gambling marked, we assumed that we were not obliged to perform a tender process as such, but chose a quicker and more flexible tender-like process instead.“
A spokesperson for PartyGaming however termed the setback “a technical blip. It’s quite common with government tenders for the losing party to appeal, which is what happened. It’s the first government tender we have been through, so looking back at the event, we would say we are more wiser”.
But the spokesperson declined to comment on the possibility Playtech’s challenge could delay PartyGaming’s deal to offer casino and poker into the Danish market on a white-label basis.
“We are very experienced at getting these things done quickly. It’s only June, legislation is not due to come in until January. If this was awarded whenever, we can get this going very quickly.”
January 11, 2010
Danske Spil chooses PartyGaming to launch online games in Denmark
PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, today announces an exclusive, five-year agreement to provide an online gaming platform for poker and casino games in Denmark for Danske Spil A/S (‘Danske Spil’).
Controlled by the Danish Government, The Danske Spil Group is one of the largest betting and gaming organisations in Europe with DKK 10,955 million of turnover in 2008. Offering a variety of gaming products in Denmark including the national lottery, numbers games, instant games as well as gambling on machines, Danske Spil has also established a large online gaming business and already has over 500,000 registered online customers.
In 2009 the Danish Government published draft legislation for a partially liberalised gaming market in Denmark that is expected to become law in 2011. If adopted, poker and casino will be among the games subjected to open competition in the Danish market. Whilst Danske Spil has strengthened its position in a number of online gaming categories such as bingo, sports betting and casual games with strong growth in the number of players and revenues, it recognised the need to join forces with a leading online gaming company in order to achieve its potential.
Over the past seven months, Danske Spil has screened the market for providers of services and potential online partners that specialise in poker and casino games. As part of its selection criteria, Danske Spil was determined to find a supplier that matched its own high standards for product quality, security and ethical requirements. PartyGaming passed all of these pre-requisites and is set to create a new strategic alliance with Danske Spil in Denmark. It is expected that the commercial terms between both companies will be finalised within the next few weeks.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of PartyGaming said:
“This is a landmark B2B deal for PartyGaming and validates our strategy to become a leading provider of B2B services to both corporates and governments around the world. Danske Spil is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading gambling businesses, one that is pre-eminent in the Danish market. We are delighted that Danske Spil has recognised our expertise and high standards of business practice and we look forward to building a significant and profitable enterprise as soon as the newly regulated Danish online gaming market opens.”
H.C. Madsen, CEO at Danske Spil, said:
"With some of the world’s leading products in online poker and casino as well as a large international customer base, PartyGaming is definitely a strong business partner for Danske Spil. Combining this with Danske Spil’s unique and strong position in the Danish market with more than 500,000 Danish online customers will guarantee that together we will deliver a highly attractive customer experience to players in Denmark."
Controlled by the Danish Government, The Danske Spil Group is one of the largest betting and gaming organisations in Europe with DKK 10,955 million of turnover in 2008. Offering a variety of gaming products in Denmark including the national lottery, numbers games, instant games as well as gambling on machines, Danske Spil has also established a large online gaming business and already has over 500,000 registered online customers.
In 2009 the Danish Government published draft legislation for a partially liberalised gaming market in Denmark that is expected to become law in 2011. If adopted, poker and casino will be among the games subjected to open competition in the Danish market. Whilst Danske Spil has strengthened its position in a number of online gaming categories such as bingo, sports betting and casual games with strong growth in the number of players and revenues, it recognised the need to join forces with a leading online gaming company in order to achieve its potential.
Over the past seven months, Danske Spil has screened the market for providers of services and potential online partners that specialise in poker and casino games. As part of its selection criteria, Danske Spil was determined to find a supplier that matched its own high standards for product quality, security and ethical requirements. PartyGaming passed all of these pre-requisites and is set to create a new strategic alliance with Danske Spil in Denmark. It is expected that the commercial terms between both companies will be finalised within the next few weeks.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of PartyGaming said:
“This is a landmark B2B deal for PartyGaming and validates our strategy to become a leading provider of B2B services to both corporates and governments around the world. Danske Spil is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading gambling businesses, one that is pre-eminent in the Danish market. We are delighted that Danske Spil has recognised our expertise and high standards of business practice and we look forward to building a significant and profitable enterprise as soon as the newly regulated Danish online gaming market opens.”
H.C. Madsen, CEO at Danske Spil, said:
"With some of the world’s leading products in online poker and casino as well as a large international customer base, PartyGaming is definitely a strong business partner for Danske Spil. Combining this with Danske Spil’s unique and strong position in the Danish market with more than 500,000 Danish online customers will guarantee that together we will deliver a highly attractive customer experience to players in Denmark."
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