The Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) announced on August 19, 2026 a new blocking order against 98 illegal gambling websites, including Polymarket, after the Frederiksberg District Court authorized the measure on July 8. With this latest round, Denmark has now blocked 870 domains since 2012, the year the country partially liberalized its gambling market and opened betting and online casino to privately licensed operators.
The authority considers a platform illegal when it offers gambling services aimed at Danish consumers without a local license. Indicators include Danish-language content, the Danish krone, the national flag, locally targeted marketing, Danish payment methods, customer service in Danish and markets specifically designed for bettors in the country. The current legal framework is set out in the Danish Gambling Act, Consolidation Act No. 1182 of September 22, 2025. Its Section 65 prohibits facilitating payments to illegal operators and transmitting access through communications networks to unauthorized gambling systems.
The process is not automatic. Spillemyndigheden first contacts the operator and demands that the activity cease. If it continues, the authority seeks judicial intervention. Internet service providers then implement DNS blocking and redirect users to an information page from the regulator. Denmark can also block mirror sites linked to domains already declared illegal.
Anders Dorph
Spillemyndigheden is headed by Anders Dorph, who also serves as Chair of the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF), and operates under the Ministry of Taxation and Economic Growth, led since June 3, 2026 by Jakob Engel-Schmidt.
The tougher enforcement comes in a highly digitalized market. In 2025, online casino generated DKK 4.309 billion in GGR, overtaking lotteries for the first time, which produced DKK 3.492 billion. 73% of all gambling activity took place online, while channelization reached around 91.5%. In June 2026, the liberalized market generated approximately DKK 723 million in GGR, with betting up 68.6% and online casino up 16% year on year.
Polymarket is therefore entering an enforcement campaign that already hit 162 websites in 2024 and 334 in 2025, as Denmark strengthens enforcement, AML controls, player protection through ROFUS — with 71,733 registered users as of July 1, 2026 — and sanctions against facilitators.
