SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
In a bid to minimise the number of underage gamblers accessing its products, Danish operator Danske Spil has rolled out new identification requirements across its retail premises.
The move, which will see Danske Spil launch both physical and electronic player cards, will be used as a means of identifying players and customers looking to purchase Danske Spil products at retail locations, such as betting kiosks or in supermarkets.
In connection with the new decision from Danske Spil, the company’s CEO, Susanne Mørch Koch, explained: “Danske Spil is Denmark’s gaming company, and we will not tolerate uncertainty as to whether our offering is in the hands of our children and young people or abused to launder illegal money.
“We already carry out extensive checks on betting in kiosks and working closely with authorities to track down suspicious people who might have criminal intent, but we can’t live with the doubt as to whether a criminal goes under our radar.”
Under the initiative, 3,000 gamers will be required to show the identification card, as the operator ensures that its games ‘are not sold to young people under 18 or abused by criminals for money laundering.’
Susanne Mørch Koch added: “In Danske Spil we will only bet with adults. Compliance with age limits has long been a focus area for us, and with the playing card we have an important and powerful tool in hand. Gambling is for adults and not for children.”
However, the CEO admitted that the creation of the new card may result in a drop in profits for the operator, but this was better than the alternative of children being able to gamble.
“It is not possible to accurately calculate the negative consequence of introducing the game card. It is to be expected that part of the spontaneous game will go away and that it will cost us a significant three-digit million on our turnover at least in the short run. We have to take that write-down simply because we do not want to accept the alternative,” concluded Susanne Mørch Koch.
