A Twitch streamer in Denmark has been fined DKK 10,000 (approximately $1,457) by The Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) for advertising unlicensed gambling operators on the streaming platform. This marks the first instance of the Danish Gambling Authority penalizing a streamer for promoting illegal gambling services.
Advertising Violations:
The streamer received the fine for promoting a gambling operator without a valid Danish license during their live streams. Both the streamer and the unlicensed gambling provider involved in the case have not been named. Once the illegal advertising activity was detected, the streamer was reported to the local police for violating gambling advertising regulations.
Police Confirmation and Fine:
The police investigation confirmed that the streamer had indeed breached the law. As a result, the Danish Gambling Authority recommended a fine of DKK 10,000 for the violations, which was subsequently imposed on the streamer.
Recent Regulatory Actions:
The Danish Gambling Authority has been actively cracking down on illegal gambling activities. In a recent annual review, the authority blocked access to 49 illegal websites. Additionally, Betfair faced regulatory action for violations of Denmark’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Act, receiving three orders and a reprimand. Betfair was given specific deadlines to address these issues.
Twitch’s Response:
Twitch, the streaming platform where the violations occurred, has taken measures to prevent gambling advertisements on its site. It added Blaze and Gamdom to its list of prohibited sites to protect its community from gambling-related harms, address predatory behavior, and create a safer environment on the platform.
The Danish Gambling Authority’s actions against the Twitch streamer highlight the growing importance of compliance with gambling regulations, even in emerging online spaces like live streaming. This case serves as a reminder that promoting unlicensed gambling services can result in significant fines, emphasizing the need for both streamers and operators to adhere to legal requirements.