Danish online casino revenues increase 25% in 2015

Denmark’s remote gambling and gaming market continued to grow in 2015 with online casino revenues increasing 25% across the 12 months while sports betting also saw significant growth.

Casino revenues increased to ?140.4m in the 12 months to 31 December and Q4 figures grew at an identical rate, marking the fourth quarter in a row where revenues grew by more than 20% year-on-year.

Overall Danish betting revenues grew 14% to ?215m in 2015 due to “significant growth in online revenues”, according to one market expert, although official figures for online/offline split were not available.

Morten Ronde, the chief executive of the Danish Online Gambling Association, said the growth in betting had been derived through online channels and offline betting had actually declined.

“I think if you were able to split the numbers you would see quite significant growth – much more than 14% – in online betting” Ronde said.

He estimated that the market share for online betting was now likely bigger than 52% – therefore more than ?112m in revenues.

“The live betting is driving growth,” Ronde added. “That’s just growing everywhere at the moment and 2015 was not a big sports year so I think we’ll see more growth this year with the Euros, even though Denmark failed to qualify.”

However, online poker continued to struggle, with revenues down 3% in 2015 and down 25% since 2012. Online poker revenue stood at ?17.5m – accounting for around 11% of all online casino games.

“It’s the same picture everywhere,” said Ronde. “The market has flattened out and declined to some extent. Poker is not as popular as it has been but I know poker operators are doing a lot to revitalise the product.”

As of January 2016, gaming companies held 15 licences for betting in Denmark and 26 licences for online casino.