Spillemyndigheden, Denmark’s gambling inspectorate, has celebrated the success of voluntary self-exclusion scheme ‘ROFUS’, which has reached a milestone registering over 40,000 Danish players from gambling harms.
Operating since 2012, the Register of Voluntarily Excluded Players (ROFUS), is a voluntary scheme that allows players to take a break from both online and land-based gambling for indefinite periods decided by the customer.
The number of registered players has consistently risen every year, reaching 40,000 as of February 2023. The Danish Gambling Authority’s Director, Anders Dorph, stated that the rise demonstrates the scheme’s usefulness and importance in protecting players who need a break from gambling.
The increased awareness of ROFUS has contributed to the growth in registrations. Since 2016, the Danish Gambling Authority has launched multiple campaigns on TV and social media, raising the platform’s awareness to 45% of all Danes by 2021. Additionally, since 2020, online gambling operators have been required to refer to ROFUS in their marketing.
“Since 2016, we have worked intensively on spreading awareness of ROFUS, said Dorph. “We have done this, among other things, through two major campaigns on TV and social media, and we have succeeded to that extent: In our latest survey in 2021, 45% of all Danes knew ROFUS.”
“I believe that our campaigns have helped to make ROFUS known to the Danish population. It is important to us that the Danes know the possibility of self-exclusion if they feel that the game is taking over.”
Two consistent trends have emerged over ROFUS’s 11-year tenure. Firstly, 66% of registered users choose to self-exclude permanently, although they can opt-out a year after registration by contacting the Danish Gambling Authority. Secondly, the majority of registered users -76% in February 2023 – are men.
The Danish Gambling Authority also operates the helpline StopSpillet, providing advice and guidance on compulsive gambling to players, their families, friends, and professionals. Dorph emphasised the importance of offering efficient tools like ROFUS to ensure a safe gambling market for Danish players.
“It is essential to ensure a safe gambling market that those who need to self-exclude from gambling for a short while or a long-term period can do it easily and effectively,” Dorph concluded. “That is why ROFUS is a success, and we are happy to be able to offer such an efficient tool for Danish players.”
