Prize games

A game of chance is a game in which pure luck decides whether a player wins or not, for example tombola, lottery and roulette.

A game of skills is a game in which the player’s skills decide whether the player wins or not, for example games where the player must shoot at a goal.

You can obtain permission to offer prize games if the police make the assessment that the nature of the game is amusement. This is typically the case for games where the amusement element outweighs the financial element. For that reason, a framework for the amount of stakes and prizes is set out in legislation.

In the case of tombola and similar games of chance, the gaming activity cannot stand alone but must be included as an amusement element at a major event, such as a public town party or a travelling fun fair.

If it is free of charge to participate in the game and if the prizes you can win in the game are of no value, you do not need permission.

Casinos and gambling arcades do not fall within the legislation on public amusements and permission must instead be obtained from the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden), which is also the supervisory authority.

When permission for a gaming activity is granted by the police, it is a condition that you have obtained permission from the owner of the land where you wish to place the game. The landowner may be a private individual, a business or an association, such as the local athletics association. In the case of public places such as parks and town squares, the municipality is the landowner. You must observe any terms and conditions for the use of the site determined by the landowner.

In connection with the processing of your application, the police must also approve the site where you want to place the prize game for the sake of safety, such as access routes for emergency management and regulation of traffic in connection with access/exit and parking.

The amounts of stakes and prizes are set out in legislation. The rules appear from sections 9 to 15 of the Danish Executive Order on Public Amusements (bekendtgørelse om offentlige forlystelser).

Please note that it is not permitted to play for monetary prizes or strong alcoholic drinks.

You must contact the Gambling Authority if the stakes and prizes exceed the amounts set out in sections 9 to 15 of the Executive Order on Public Amusements.