Danish regulator launches 'Casino in the Children's Room' campaign on gambling-like mechanics in video games

The Danish Gambling Authority, Spillemyndigheden, has introduced a public awareness campaign about gambling-like elements in video games. Titled "Casino in the Children's Room" (Kasino på børneværelset), it began on October 26 and is aimed at encouraging parents to discuss games of chance, and the risks of gambling, with their children.

The regulator acknowledged that video games are enjoyed safely by millions of children and adults. It noted, however, that the sector's development has brought in certain mechanics that resemble gambling. Among the best-known and most contested examples are loot boxes and "gacha" mechanics, although some games also contain gambling-like features that do not involve spending real money.

As part of the campaign, Spillemyndigheden has released a TV advertisement showing a father who walks into his child's room and finds it transformed into a casino filled with gambling machines. The campaign will also run across social media. In addition, three storefronts have been decorated with a "Casino Kids" banner. The authority said these are not actual venues, and that the provocative messaging is intended to draw attention to the issue.

People reached by the campaign are directed to the StyrPåSpillet.dk platform. The site provides information on gambling elements in video games and how they can contribute to potential addiction. It also offers materials for parents and educators, including advice on how to raise the topic with children and young people.

Anders Dorph, director of Spillemyndigheden, said that debates about children and digital media often focus on screen time, but that it is equally important to take an interest in the content of the games and the mechanisms children encounter while playing. In the regulator's view, understanding what games contain matters as much as managing how long children spend on them.

The initiative reflects a broader regulatory interest in the overlap between gaming and gambling, particularly where younger audiences are concerned. Rather than proposing new restrictions, the Danish campaign relies on parental engagement and information to address the risks.