Denmark Ready to Unload Online Gambling Monopoly

The Danish government is looking to unload a potentially very valuable piece of online gambling real estate called Danske Spil.
Danske Spil is Denmark’s state-owned online gambling monopoly and its sale could yield quite a handsome price on the open market. By some estimates, Danske Spil could yield somewhere between $450 million and #600 million (USD) at auction.
The idea of selling the online asset was first floated by Brian Mikkelsen, deputy chairman of the Conservative parliamentary group. Mikkelsen, according to a report on CalvinAyre.com, says that unloading Danske Spil would be, “…as easy as snapping one’s fingers.”
While Mikkelsen is probably right, buyers would probably be lining up to grab such a valuable brand, not every Danish politician is on board.
Critics of the proposed sale say that giving up a reliable revenue stream like Danske Spil in favor of a one-time payout is incredibly short-sighted. Their point is bolstered by the fact that the state-owned online gambling monopoly brings in around $113 million (USD) annually.
Despite opposition arguments, this isn’t Denmark’s first foray into gambling liberalization. In 2012, the country opened up its gaming markets to limited outside competition.
If the Danes unload Danske Spil, they’ll be sitting at the forefront gambling liberalization in Europe. In doing so, they’d also be setting an example for other Euro Zone governments, like Germany and Spain, that have been extremely reluctant about opening their online gambling markets to competition.
That said, Denmark might not be on the cutting edge for long, Sweden is currently looking at measures that would privatize their online gambling monopoly.