888 confirms Denmark licence application
COO Itai Frieberger says the firm hopes to be licensed and live in Denmark by the end of the year
888 has re-applied for a Danish operating licence and hopes to launch in the regulated market by the end of the year, COO Itai Frieberger has told eGaming Review.
The operator was awarded a Danish licence back in 2011, but decided to put its launch on hold and return its permit in order to prioritise the development of its US-facing business.
“We had to think which looked like it would be the bigger market, and we thought the US looked like a great opportunity,” Frieberger told eGR.
“But in hindsight we should probably have done it the other way round, although we are 100% committed to America,” he added.
The Danish remote market recently enjoyed its strongest quarter since re-regulation three years ago as online casino revenues for Q4 grew almost 9% to DKK1.1bn (£102m), a total 888 will be keen to secure a share of.
However, a recent survey of the Danish market found that 17% of stakes were being placed with unlicensed operators, a figure the Danish Online Gambling Association described as “concerning”.
The news comes after 888 revealed record full-year 2014 financial results yesterday, with revenues and profits up 14% and 33% respectively.