TV2, the Danish state-owned broadcaster, has found a loophole in the national gaming law that allows it to operate an online gambling Web site.
Danske Spil, the state-owned gaming operator, may have held the monopoly on the 11 billion Denmark kroner, or $2.3 million, per year Danish gambling industry, but TV2's games are classified as games of skill, which are not covered by national gaming laws.
"We've looked into the legalities of this together with gaming officials," Lars Bernt, director of TV2 Net told the Copenhagen Post on Monday. "They differentiate between games of chance, which are covered by the monopoly, and games of skill, which are not."
The company has created a skill games Web site offering 12 games, including backgammon, golf and pool.
Another difference between Danske Spil and TV2 is that while the state monopoly gives most of its profits to national culture and sports organizations, TV2 is able to keep all of its profits.
TV2 said it sees the loophole -- coupled with the European Commission's infringement proceedings against Denmark -- as an opportunity for other operators to move into the Danish market.