Ireland and Denmark Partner to Strengthen Online Gambling Regulation

Ireland and Denmark are forging new paths in European gambling regulation. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) and Denmark's Spillemyndigheden have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in online gambling.

Both nations face similar challenges. Many online gambling operators are active across multiple European markets simultaneously. Coordinated regulation is hence becoming increasingly crucial. The Irish authority recently introduced new remote betting licenses, which became effective on July 1, 2026. This marks a significant step in Ireland's new licensing system.

Numbers and facts

The Memorandum of Understanding deepens cooperation on compliance, monitoring, and enforcement. This covers supervision of operators, market activity monitoring, and enforcement work. Issues affecting both jurisdictions will be addressed jointly. Recent discussions between Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the GRAI, and Anders Dorph, Director General of Spillemyndigheden, preceded the signing. They exchanged views on regulatory challenges and alignment possibilities.

Anne Marie Caulfield emphasized the importance of this step:

"This Memorandum of Understanding with the Danish Gambling Authority is an important step in strengthening cooperation between regulators in closely connected markets. Continued dialogue with Denmark will support more effective oversight, and this agreement advances our wider efforts to deepen collaboration with European regulatory partners."

Ireland's new licensing system began with remote betting licenses on July 1, 2026. The GRAI plans to phase in other license types over the next two years. Applications for in-person betting licenses will open later this year. Lottery, business-to-business, and charitable gaming licenses are scheduled for 2027 and 2028. In Denmark, Morten Rønde, director of the Danish trade body Spillebranchen, expressed concerns about new stringent regulations impacting the industry. He noted a government claim that nearly 500,000 Danish adults experienced some gambling problem in 2021, and almost 30,000 faced serious gambling problems. Additionally, 25,000 Danish children and young people experienced some degree of gambling harm.

Background

The agreement reflects a shared concern about cross-border risks in a digital-first market. Online gambling businesses often operate across multiple countries. This means regulators frequently deal with the same companies and similar compliance issues. Stronger links between authorities should lead to more effective oversight. This is particularly true where market practices or operator activities extend beyond a single national market. Denmark has long been seen as a model for balanced gambling regulation. It aims to protect consumers while sustaining a competitive licensed market. However, recent stringent regulations, known as Spilpakken 1, have shocked the industry. These include a whistle-to-whistle ban on betting advertising during live sports, tighter controls on outdoor promotions, and restrictions on free-to-play bonuses. Gaming giant Stake officially launched in Denmark on March 1, 2026, after securing a five-year online casino and sports betting license.

Why it matters for German players

The cooperation between Ireland and Denmark highlights a growing trend in European gambling regulation: the need for harmonized standards and cross-border enforcement. While directly impacting Irish and Danish markets, such international agreements can indirectly influence regulatory thinking across the EU, including Germany. German players benefit from the strict regulations under the GlüStV 2021. This includes the 1 Euro per spin limit for slots and the 1,000 Euro monthly deposit limit. Additionally, the LUGAS system ensures player protection by monitoring betting behavior and preventing parallel play. The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GGL) strictly enforces these rules, keeping Germany's whitelist small but secure. Increased international collaboration could potentially strengthen these protections further, though specific impacts on the German market are yet to be seen.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For casinos operating under a GGL license in Germany, the Irish-Danish cooperation emphasizes the importance of robust compliance frameworks. The GGL's stringent requirements, such as the 1-Euro-Limit per Spin and the monatliche Einzahlungsobergrenze von 1.000 Euro, set high standards for player protection and responsible gaming. The LUGAS-Sperrsystem further ensures that players at GGL-licensed operators adhere to these limits. While the specific terms of the Irish-Danish MoU do not directly apply to German licensees, the overall trend towards closer cross-border coordination suggests that regulators are keen to ensure high standards of player protection and fraud prevention across Europe. This could lead to a reinforcement of existing best practices and potentially influence future regulatory adjustments within Germany, aligning with a broader European effort to combat illegal gambling and protect vulnerable players.