Denmark is preparing to bring one of its most traditional fundraising games under modern gambling law, as lawmakers back a new “Banko Bill” to regulate bingo played over local radio and walkie-talkies from 1 January 2026.
The proposal, now before the Folketing, would treat Banko as its own gambling category and give the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) direct oversight of organisers that choose to operate under a new, light-touch licence.
Low-Cost Licence for Community Radio and Associations
Radio or walkie-talkie bingo currently falls under Denmark’s online casino rules, with costs and compliance obligations designed for commercial operators. For small sports clubs, parish associations, or local stations, that framework has been widely considered unworkable.
The new licence would carry an annual fee of DKK 1,000 (approximately €140), significantly below the cost of a full online casino licence, and cap annual turnover at DKK 1 million (approximately €140,000) to maintain the activity at community scale.
Organisers would be required to return at least 80% of stakes as prizes, while any remaining profit after payouts would be subject to a 28% levy in line with broader Danish gambling tax rules.
Applications would open on 1 January 2026, the same day the rules are expected to come into force. Organisers will apply through Spillemyndigheden using a dedicated “walkie-talkie and radio bingo” form and will be assigned a named contact at the Authority to assist with licensing and ongoing compliance.
Protecting Tradition Without Commercialisation
The concept of a bespoke regime for Banko has been under discussion in Copenhagen for several years.
Former tax minister Rasmus Stoklund was an early advocate, arguing that radio bingo serves as both a social tradition and an important source of income for small associations, particularly in rural municipalities. He pushed for a turnover cap specifically to ensure that small associations, rather than commercial gambling firms, would use the licence.
His successor, current tax minister Jeppe Bruus, has now advanced the concept into a concrete bill. The Ministry’s reform papers describe the objective as preserving a cherished Danish pastime while introducing clear standards for governance and consumer protection.
Spillemyndigheden’s Role and Compliance Expectations
If the Folketing approves the bill, Spillemyndigheden will add Banko to its portfolio alongside betting, online casino, land-based venues, and lotteries. The Authority has already flagged the upcoming licence on its website, indicating it expects the rules “as early as 1 January 2026” and outlining the basic application and reporting steps for prospective operators.
Although the licence is designed to be straightforward, it will still fall under Denmark’s Gambling Act and the executive order on online casinos. This means organisers must comply with core requirements on fair game design, transparent rules, responsible gambling information, and anti-money-laundering controls, albeit scaled to their smaller risk profile.
For suppliers and platform providers, the regime also intersects with Denmark’s new B2B licensing system, introduced in 2025 for technology and content studios serving licensed operators. Any third-party platform that hosts or supports radio Banko could, in time, fall under those business-to-business rules.
Part of a Wider 2025 Reset on Gambling
In October, the government and a broad cross-party majority agreed on “Spilpakke 1 – A more responsible gambling market,” a package aimed at reducing problem gambling and minimising children’s exposure to betting content.
Key measures in that agreement include an expanded “whistle-to-whistle” ban on gambling advertising around sports broadcasts, covering the period from 10 minutes before kick-off until 10 minutes after the final whistle; stricter limits on the use of celebrities in gambling marketing; and new rules to control influencers and “gamefluencers” who promote gambling to younger audiences via social media.
“The government wants to challenge a gambling industry that for too long has been allowed to take up too much space and ensure that entertainment does not turn into addiction.”
Tax minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen framed the deal as the start of a broader cultural shift.
Spillemyndigheden will also receive stronger enforcement powers against illegal operators and a clearer mandate to focus supervision on player protection rather than administrative complexity.
What It Means for Gambling and Media Stakeholders
For commercial gambling operators, the Banko regime is unlikely to generate significant revenue. The hard DKK 1 million turnover cap, 80% payout requirement, and non-commercial positioning make it unattractive as a profit centre. Instead, the target market is clearly voluntary associations, local radio outlets, and small organisers that rely on bingo for community fundraising.
However, the bill demonstrates that Denmark is willing to create niche, revenue-restricted licences that sit alongside a tighter mainstream regime, rather than forcing all forms of wagering into one commercial template.
If the timetable holds, 2026 will open with a new class of licensed game on the Danish map, supervised by the Gambling Authority but priced and structured for the smallest of organisers. For policymakers, the goal is that Banko can remain what it has long been—a social fixture on the airwaves—while finally operating inside a framework that reflects both its risks and its role in local life.
Source: Spillemyndigheden’s
