Denmark’s government plans to sell off the state-owned Danske Spil betting operation but opposition politicians are accusing the government of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Last week, the Danish government revealed that it was mulling a sale of Danske Spil’s online gambling operations, including its online betting, poker and casino business, while keeping its lottery business under state control.

Brian Mikkelsen, deputy chairman of the Conservative parliamentary group, told Danish business media outlet Borsen that selling Danske Spil’s betting business would be as easy as snapping one’s fingers. Mikkelsen suggested a sale could be finalized within one year of the business being officially put on the block.

Some observers have estimated that the state could realize up to DKK 3b-4b (US $460m-613m) via the sale, a not insignificant sum for any government looking to plug budget gaps.