Gaming in the Nordics launch event in Copenhagen spotlights Nordic iGaming regulation

The Gaming in the Nordics Launch Event was held recently at Better Collective’s headquarters in Copenhagen, bringing together Nordic regulators, operators and industry stakeholders to discuss iGaming regulation, compliance and market channelization.

Morten Ronde, CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association and Partner at Nordic Legal, said the Nordic region’s “pragmatism and willingness to be early adopters” could make it an early testing ground for “the next generation of innovative iGaming regulation.”

Anders Dorph, Director of Denmark’s gambling regulator Spillemyndigheden, addressed operator compliance, the role of Big Tech and player monitoring. He said Danish-licensed operators “are all very eager to be compliant. The industry [in Denmark] wants to be compliant. And that is a fact.”

Operator perspectives were provided by Pontus Lindwall, CEO of Betsson, and Jesper Kärrbrink, CEO of Immense Group, who discussed regulatory approaches in Nordic markets. Lindwall outlined three prerequisites for a “healthy market” with high channelization: “1) a competitive product; 2) meaningful player protections; and 3) real enforcement.”

Lindwall also linked channelization to player protection, arguing that oversight depends on consumers remaining in the regulated market. “We are in a business where there is harm,” Lindwall said. “We must admit this and reflect on this. We also need to be able to reach these players, which we can only do if they are inside of the regulated system.”

Gaming in the Nordics founder Willem van Oort said the invitation-only launch event would be followed by a “full-size, annual Gaming in the Nordics Conference” planned for June in Copenhagen from 2027 onwards.