Danish Online Casinos Scolded for the Careless Use of the Word “Free” in Ads

posted at: 19 April 2019

In a statement published on its website on April 15, the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) called for transparency and reminded the local online casinos to comply with the Danish Marketing Practices Act and refrain from using the word “free” in their advertisements.

According to the watchdog, the word “free” is misleading and makes players think that if a casino offers “50 free spins” or “free bets”, they can simply claim the bonus and enjoy themselves. In fact, they need to make a deposit and meet wagering requirements to release the funds generated via the free spins/bets.

Spillemyndigheden authorities also reminded local casino operators to adhere to the Danish Executive Orders on Online Casino section 20(1)(1) and the Executive Order on Betting section 19(1)(1) and outline the bonus T&C directly beside the offer. The online casinos were also advised to use the word “free” in their ads only if the bonus has no strings attached.

The warning comes a few weeks after the announcement that Danish online casinos will face tough ad restrictions. As reported by CorrectCasinos, a new Code of Conduct is expected to come into force on July 1st, 2019. The restrictions it introduces are aimed at protecting vulnerable audiences against the adverse effects gambling ads might have on them.

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