Denmark’s Ministry of Taxation is set to introduce mandatory ID cards – known as ‘player cards’ – at the country’s betting kiosks in a bid to bolster anti-money laundering (AML) and player protection procedures.

The Ministry explained that the introduction of playing cards on 1 July 2022 will effectively end the ability of players to place bets anonymously, although Lottery coupons and scratch cards will be exempt from the new measure.

By requiring players to present their identification via the playing card, Danish authorities hope to ‘reveal gaming patterns’ through the collection and analysis of gaming data in order to detect signs of money laundering or match fixing.

Additionally,  the cards will be used to check whether players are above the age of 18 before placing a bet, whilst also determining if a potential player has voluntarily excluded themselves from gambling or if they have exceeded their self-set spending limit before a wager can be made. 

“With the playing card, we do away with the opportunity to play anonymously in, among other things, football matches,” said Morten Bødskov, Minister of Taxation.

“We are thus putting a stick in the wheel of the criminals who use this type of game as a means of, for example, laundering money. With the playing card, players must register, no matter how small amounts they play for, and data about their games are analysed and reported to the authorities if it seems suspicious.”

The policy has also received the support of Denmark’s political parties, with the Social Democrats, Social Liberal Party, Venstre, Danish People’s Party, Socialist People’s Party, Red-Green Alliance, Christian Democrats and The Alternative political parties backing the introduction of required IDs.

“There is a need to tighten the rules in the gaming area,” Bødskov continued. “Many Danes – especially young men – have problems with gambling, and this often has major consequences for themselves, their future and their families. 

“That is why we have agreed with a broad majority of the parliamentary parties to launch a playing card. It is a targeted bet, as this is where the problems with gambling addiction are greatest.”

The development is the latest in a series of moves made by Danish authorities to confront allegations of money laundering in the betting and gaming industry, with the country’s regulator – Spillemyndigheden, the Danish Gaming Authorityreminding licenced operators of their AML duties in an update last month.

Furthermore, the authority also recently reprimanding LeoVegas for AML shortcomings after allowing five customers to deposit between DKK 1.2 and 1.6 million between six and 46 months from 2017 to 2019.