Danish Gambling Regulator Expands ROFUS System to Physical Stores

Danish Gambling Authority Spillemyndigheden has confirmed that the country’s ROFUS self-exclusion system has been extended to include betting in physical stores. The extension applies to new registrations created on and after 1 October 2023. Registrations from before 1 October 2023 will not change.

From 1 October 2023, it is mandatory for players to identify themselves with a so-called Player ID when buying bets at physical retailers, such as kiosks and betting shops. The ID must be used when a player wants to place bets in physical stores in Denmark.

The implementation of the Player ID means that ROFUS now also blocks betting in physical stores. This means that a registration with ROFUS or a renewal of an existing registration with ROFUS on or after 1 October 2023 will block:

• Online games offered by gambling operators with a Danish licence
• Physical casinos in Denmark
• Physical bets offered at a physical retailer, e.g. kiosks or betting shops in Denmark
• Direct advertising from these gambling operators

If you are registered with ROFUS before 1 October 2023 and do not renew your registration, the exclusion will remain unchanged. You will still only be blocked from online gambling offered by gambling operators with a Danish licence, physical casinos in Denmark and from receiving direct advertising from these.

The background for the expansion of ROFUS and the implementation of the Player ID is a political desire to increase consumer protection and reduce the risk of young people under the age of 18 gaining access to gambling in physical stores. In addition, there is a desire to strengthen efforts to combat match-fixing and money laundering.

The implementation of a mandatory Player ID in the physical betting market was politically agreed in November 2019.