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Greenland is often overlooked in geopolitical terms, let alone as a destination for Vegas-style entertainment. However, in recent years the spotlight has begun to shine on the world’s largest island, due to its strategic importance and vast potential for producing natural resources. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced NATO countries to refocus on mutual defense, and take active measures to prepare for a potential wider conflict. This has brought the geopolitical importance of Greenland to the fore.
Within this context, former US national security adviser, John Bolton, has speculated in an interview that President-elect Donald Trump has potentially expressed interest in opening a casino in Greenland. While this would fit neatly into Trump’s playbook, having established hotels and casinos in other countries to expand his brand worldwide, it nonetheless comes as something of a surprise, given Greenland’s location and relatively sparse population.
There aren’t many gambling operations on the island, as the market is so limited. All land-based and online casinos in Greenland, as well as lotteries, are under the auspices of the Danish Gambling Authority, as Denmark controls the territory under international law. Internally, the Greenlandic police is the body that has the authority to issue licenses for smaller set-ups like gaming machines in shops and charity lotteries.
Only online casinos that are licensed by Denmark are allowed to operate in Greenland. Residents may also play at offshore online gaming platforms, including the popular non-KYC casinos like tg.casino. Players like these casinos because they don’t have to go through all the red tape of the Know Your Customer process. This allows them to quickly start playing, and offers enhanced levels of privacy and anonymity, as only minimal identification is required.
The use of cryptocurrencies at such casinos further enhances their appeal for players who want as much privacy as they can get, for legitimate reasons. While this kind of anonymity and lack of due diligence can also reduce player protection and expose them to fraud, many players are choosing to accept these risks to enjoy the benefits, like faster withdrawals.
Bolton briefly mentioned the idea of a “Trump casino in Nuuk”, Greenland’s capital city, in an interview with The Free Press. This is in keeping with Trump’s previously stated ambitions for the island. In 2019 he floated a proposal for the USA to buy Greenland from Denmark, which was not taken very seriously by other world leaders, and seen as a bit of a joke. However, since becoming President-elect again, he has begun to ratchet up the rhetoric once more.
Trump’s argument is that the acquisition of Greenland is crucial for the national security of the US and for broader global freedom. He points to the existing US Air Force base in Thule as an example of the importance of having a presence on the island, given its strategic location and proximity to the Arctic region, which is expected to be hotly contested in a future world conflict.
When it comes to building a casino there, it’s tough to decide whether this would be a vanity project, or if it will also provide some form of economic upliftment for Greenland. Casinos can deliver several economic benefits, beyond creating employment. It can obviously generate government revenue in the form of taxes, and can boost tourism. Although it has to be said that it’s difficult to imagine a single casino in Greenland all of a sudden encouraging tourists to visit a rather challenging holiday destination simply for this, when they can just as easily play at home.
One also has to consider the cultural impact it could have on the largely Inuit indigenous population. The introduction of gambling operations to a new territory can have profound social implications, especially if it clashes with traditional values and practices. Many communities prioritize their communal wellbeing, and casinos have an unfortunate track record of community disruption through gambling addiction and associated issues like petty theft and family discord.
The idea of a Trump casino in Greenland is certainly an attention-grabbing idea, and its boldness does align with his customary approach to business ventures. However it’s far more easily said than done. Denmark has very strict regulations, particularly around environmental and habitat protection, which includes indigenous communities. To build one would require negotiating a complex minefield of geopolitical, legal, economic and sovereignty issues. It wouldn’t simply be a matter of flying in a construction company and cutting the opening ribbon.
Any kind of casino development would have to be undertaken with the full support of local residents too. Greenland’s autonomy cannot be compromised merely in the name of a commercial venture. This will require collaborative decision making, and the ways in which such a casino would benefit the local community will have to be clearly spelled out. Ultimately, the decision lies with the people of Greenland and the Danish government. Given that Denmark has historically rejected any idea of selling the territory, a Trump casino in Greenland may well prove to be a fleeting notion.