Listen to this article:Denmark has announced plans to bring Banko, a traditional fundraising pastime, into the regulated gambling framework. Lawmakers are currently considering a dedicated bill for Banko, which is a form of bingo that is played over local radio and walkie-talkies. While bingo sites deliver a calm, screen-based experience, Banko invites you to swap clicks for action and dive headfirst into something more immersive. The proposed bill, which is currently under review in the Folketing, would place Banko in its own gambling category and introduce a licensing model designed specifically for community groups, charities, and local radio stations.
While Banko has been widely enjoyed across Denmark for decades, games often take place in a regulatory grey area. Technically, radio Banko falls under online casino legislation, which comes with high costs and compliance obligations that small associations have struggled with. The new bill is designed to correct this by creating a ring-fenced, low-cost licence that is more appropriate for the small scale of the activity and, at the same time, ensure the games are run safely and transparently.
Under the proposed system, Banko games would be supervised directly by Spillemyndigheden, the Danish Gambling Authority. The Ministry of Taxation has confirmed that Tax Minister Jeppe Bruus intends to introduce the new regime from 1 January 2026.
Assuming the new laws are approved, applications for Banko licenses will open on the same day. Operators will be able to apply through Spillemyndigheden, and each applicant will be assigned a dedicated contact person to help guide them through the process.
The proposed licence is deliberately modest. The annual fee would be just DKK 1,000, which is far less than the cost of a full online casino licence, and annual turnover would be capped at DKK 1 million. The cap is a vital part of the bill, as it will ensure that Banko remains a non-commercial, community-focused activity rather than a profitable gambling venture. As former tax minister Rasmus Stoklund explained, the limit is intended “to ensure that it is precisely the small associations that use the licence”.
Under the proposed laws, organisers must return at least 80% of bets to players, while any remaining profit after payouts will be taxed at 28%. While this does align Banko with Denmark’s gambling taxation framework, it avoids imposing the more expensive taxes associated with commercial casino-style gaming.
Those with Banko licenses will also be required to submit a compliance report after their first year of operation to confirm that they have met Denmark’s player-protection standards. Even under the new licensing laws, Banko will still fall under the country’s Gambling Act, and this means that organisers must comply with the same rules surrounding fair play, responsible-gambling information, and anti-money-laundering procedures.
Many local Banko organisers have welcomed the proposal and see it as a much-needed modernisation. For a number of years, community radio stations, parish associations, and small sports clubs have said that the existing framework made it difficult to run Banko legally without incurring high costs. The new licence would enable these groups to host the games legally while preserving their character.
Over the last year, Denmark has made a number of changes to its gambling industry. A new B2B licensing system for technology and game-design suppliers was introduced, and there was a major reworking of marketing controls.
The government has also confirmed that it will be introducing a whistle-to-whistle ban on gambling advertising during live sports broadcasts, which will run from 10 minutes before kick-off until 10 minutes after the final whistle. Other changes include restrictions on the use of celebrities, a ban on gambling ads near schools and on public transport, and new rules for digital influencers who stream gambling content.
Assuming nothing changes, the dedicated bill for Banko will happen, and the game will officially join Denmark’s regulated gambling categories from 1 January 2026, with the hope that the much-loved tradition will be able to continue to thrive.
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