Danish Gambling Authority confirms new charity lottery licence rules
Updates come eight months after Danish government reached agreement with other parties to change charity lottery regulations, with efforts spearheaded by the Ministry of Taxation
The Danish Gambling Authority (DGA) has announced that new rules regarding charity lotteries are now in effect, with open applications for licences currently live.
Operators can apply to the regulator for a licence to run a charity lottery under the new rules, though such licences will be valid only from 1 January 2025.
The DGA confirmed that all operators applying for a licence between 25 November and 31 December will automatically receive a preliminary licence.
It added that it would not process any applications until H1 2025, while those operators with a preliminary licence must adhere to regulations set out in Denmark’s Gambling Act and the Executive Order on Charity Lotteries.
Operators looking to secure a licence under the new rules can apply via a digital form that will automatically distribute a preliminary licence once completed.
The form also outlines which category each company is most suitable for, given Denmark splits its lottery permits into three separate categories.
Companies that oversee a charity lottery with annual sales of less than DKK15,000 (£1,675) do not require approval from the DGA.
Category one applies to those that accumulate annual sales between DKK15,000 and DKK200,000, while category two focuses on charity lotteries amassing between DKK15,000 and DKK5m in annual sales.
Charity lotteries that generate annual sales between DKK5m and DKK100m will be required to apply for a category three licence.
The update came eight months after the Danish government and all parties in the country’s parliament agreed to change the rules surrounding charity lotteries to simplify the framework.
In March, the DGA issued the following statement, in which it references the new application system: “At the Danish Gambling Authority, we are working to be as ready as possible when the new rules are expected to be finally adopted later this fall.
“The Ministry of Taxation is in charge of the creation of the new rules, so for us at the Danish Gambling Authority, it’s about being prepared for when the new rules will be implemented.
“Among other things, we are preparing a new application process for charity lottery. Through a series of questions, it guides applicants to apply for the right licence for their lottery. It will also prepare them to comply with the rules once the applicants have been granted a licence and then hold a lottery.”
As part of the regulator’s efforts to add clarity to the new rules, the DGA is planning to host a webinar to issue further guidance on lottery licenses on 26 November.