Danske Spil Posts H1 Profit Growth On Lottery And Casino Gains
Denmark's state-owned gambling operator Danske Spil reported a rise in both revenue and profit for the first half of 2026, with record lottery sales and continued growth in its regulated online casino and poker business offsetting a softer picture elsewhere.
Gross gaming revenue reached DKK2.586bn for the six months to June 30, 2026, an increase of DKK39m on the same period last year, according to Danske Spil's own half-year statement, published on September 3, 2026.
Profit after tax climbed to DKK1.044bn, up DKK46m, or just under five per cent, on H1 2025's DKK999m.
Eurojackpot set a sales record in May, with 358,000 tickets bought for a single draw carrying a maximum prize pool of DKK750m.
Det Store Paaske Lotto, part of Danske Spil's holiday-season product line, also posted record sales, driven by a prize pool structured around 25 individual million-krone prizes.
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Danske Spil said its "primary growth" for the half came from Danske Licens Spil, the arm covering its regulated online casino and betting products.
The unit's online casino continued to expand and benefited from the launch of a new poker platform, which the operator said the Danish poker community had welcomed.
Its sportsbook brand Oddset also had a strong half thanks to the men's football World Cup in June, though Danske Spil said its Oddset television advertising was deliberately not run continuously across matches as part of its responsible gambling commitments.
Full-Year Guidance Reinstated
Danske Spil reinstated the guidance it first set out alongside its 2025 annual report, and now expects full-year 2026 gross gaming revenue of between DKK5.2bn and DKK5.3bn, with profit after tax of between DKK1.95bn and DKK2.05bn.
Chairman Lars Krarup said: "Danske Spil is here to create enjoyment and benefit, and a healthy and strong business is the precondition for us to keep delivering a substantial financial contribution to the community.
That is why I am pleased that we are both developing the business and holding on to our ambition to be the responsible market leader."
Chief executive Nikolas Lyhne-Knudsen added: "We have achieved positive development in the first half of 2026. The lotteries maintain a high level, and at the same time, we have made great progress in Danske Licens Spil, where the market is growing and where the Danish poker community has welcomed our new platform."
Why It Matters
Danske Spil is jointly owned by the Danish state, the Danish Confederation of Sports (DIF) and the Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations (DGI), and its profits flow back into Danish sport and community causes.
A stronger first half gives the operator room to keep funding those commitments while continuing to invest in its online casino and poker products through the second half of the year.
Denmark runs a licensed, competitive online gambling market rather than a state monopoly for casino and betting, so Danske Spil competes for online casino and sportsbook customers against other licensed operators even though it still holds exclusive rights to run the national lottery.
That mixed structure is one reason the operator has continued investing in its Danske Licens Spil arm, rather than relying on lottery revenue alone, even as its H1 numbers show the lotteries themselves performing strongly.
The company's next full update will come with its 2026 annual report.
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