Positive Turn for Online Gambling in 2012

January 1, 2012 will be the first day of a new era for online poker in Denmark, as the European Union member opens up to regulated online gambling.

Thirty-eight operators have received a total of 55 licenses from the Danish Gambling Authority to offer their online gambling services in Denmark beginning January 1, in the first round of licenses. Among the recipients of gambling licenses are 9 Danish companies, and a majority from Malta (20).

These are some of the companies:

• 888
• PokerStars
• Betfair
• Betsson
• Cryptologic
• Danske Spil
• Red Club Poker
• Unibet.

This is a momentous day for liberalization of online gambling not only in Denmark but in the whole of Europe, and perhaps beyond the continent.

In what seems to be addressing the critics of online gambling, Thor Möger Pedersen, Denmark's tax minister said: "From January the gambling market will be orderly and we will ensure that holders of a betting and online casino license to operate on the Danish market also contribute to the society."

We add: a legal and regulated betting and online casino market helps protect the gamblers themselves.

The Danish Gambling Authority will act to block operators who continue to offer their services in Denmark without a license after January 1, 2012.

For more, visit Online Casino Reports Denmark.