Danish Online Gambling Monopoly Splitting


12/22/10 :

The introduction of a more open regulated market in Denmark may have faltered over tax issues raised by land operators, but state gambling monopoly Danske Spil is planning ahead for the advent of the new dispensation.
 
The company has announced that it is to split its operations into three units in an organisational restructuring aimed at more dedicated focusing.
 
One division will be tasked with handling the more open market for sports betting, poker and casino; another will continue to target the monopolised market,  including lottery, scratch games, horse racing and bingo, and the third division will concern itself with the video lottery terminal sector.
 
The company has not yet revealed with which software supplier it will engage in regard to the online sports betting, casino and poker operations.
 
The restructuring will involve management changes that reportedly include the hiring of two managing directors.  The liberalised market division, to be known as Danske Licens Spil, will be headed by Jens Aaløse, whilst Danske Lotteri Spil will be managed by Mette Dyhr. Other senior appointments have been made in disciplines like IT, finance and sales.
 
Danske Spil marketing director Klaus Lohse has been let go by mutual agreement.
 
Denmark's market liberalisation drive was initially intended for implementation at the start of 2011, but a dispute over the considerable disparity between proposed taxation rates on land operations and those online has delayed matters.  Opening the market is not now expected to happen before summer 2011.
 
Danske Spil's chairman and chief executive, Hans Christian Madsen, has predicted that the tax protest launched by land operators will not be successful, although it has delayed the liberalisation process.  In the meantime he explained that the state monopoly was forging ahead with its restructuring, training and management arrangements in order to achieve the best possible market position by mid-2011.