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NORDIC NATIONS MARKET REPORT DENMARK


Population 5.5m Under 15 1m Aged 15-64 3.6m Urban population 87 percent Major cities Copenhagen (1.2m) GDP per capita $36,600 Business climate Denmark has a modern, services- dominated, technologically advanced economy and one of the highest living standards in the world. It complies with EU practices on most business-related issues, and is an enthusiastic proponent of trade liberalisation within Europe. It remains outside the eurozone but the krone is pegged to the euro. There is a comprehensive social welfare programme. An ageing population is a concern.


AWPs are only permitted in restaurants with alcohol licences, and in arcades. Restaurants can have up to three machines and are permitted to operate them for the duration of their alcohol licence. Arcades


www.euroslot-online.com


Although the country’s online gaming market is being partly opened up to private firms, Danish national lottery operator Danske Spil retains the exclusive right to offer lottery, bingo, keno, scratch-cards, and betting on horse races over the Internet.


FINLAND


Population 5.3m Under 15 800,000 Aged 15-64 3.3m Urban population 85 percent Major cities Helsinki (1.1m) GDP per capita $35,400 Business climate The only Nordic nation in the eurozone, Finland has a highly educated, highly urbanised population and an important technology sector. Although it has had one of Europe’s strongest economies in recent years, it was nevertheless badly affected by the downturn; but the pace of recovery has been good. An ageing population is a concern.


Finland has given gaming licences to three organisations, effectively creating monopolies in each gaming sector. These are not, however, held indefinitely. Ray operates casino games and slots, delivering its revenue to social services and healthcare. There is one casino in the country, as well as 76 arcades, more than 250 restaurants with table games, and some 4000 other small gaming locations. In total there are around 20,000 slots in Finland. Veikkaus offers lotteries and betting, with its income funding


cultural, arts, science, sports and youth services. Fintoto runs pari-mutuel wagering, with revenue supporting


equestrian activities. According to a government study in 2007, 73 percent of Finns


gamble. Forty-one percent of the population gamble every week, and 11 percent more than once a week. Average weekly spend on gaming is ¤13. However, it is believed that just five percent of gamblers account for half of total spend.


are individually licensed for periods ranging from one to five years. Taxation on gaming in restaurants is 40 percent of the cash box


up to about ¤4000, and 70 percent above that. For arcades, it is 40 percent up to about ¤33,000 and 70 percent above that. There is no VAT on gaming. In total, there are about 27,100 AWPs, a number that has


remained more or less static recently. Revenues, however, are declining sharply: in 2010, the Danish AWP sector took a total cash box of ¤251m. This was nearly eight percent down on 2009, and 22 percent down on 2007. With new online gaming rules expected to come into force perhaps as early as January 2012, Internet gambling is a significant threat, says DAB, the association representing AWP operators, manufacturers and distributors in Denmark. It, and one of the country’s six land-based casinos, have


complained to European authorities that differential taxation on land-based gaming and e-gaming amounts to illegal state aid for the latter (see below).


Regulatory developments Denmark is to tax online gaming operators at just 20 percent, while land-based casinos pay up to 75 percent. The European Commission is investigating.


16 SEPTEMBER 2011


Regulatory developments The minimum age for playing slots was raised from 15 to 18 in


July.


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