Belgium has revised its betting law regulations to improve player protection, confirming that the legal gambling age will be raised from 18 to 21.
The Gaming Commission published the changes to the country’s Gaming Law in a press release on its website following publication in the Belgian Official Gazette.
Advertising to promote games is also prohibited
Set to come into force on September 1, 2024, the commission said the new laws include:
- Ban on “3.3” devices
- Prohibition of accumulating online licenses on the same website
- No Gifts/Bonus/Free Games
- Principle ban on gambling advertising
- Age limit of 21 years and refund in case of non-control.
Furthermore, the commission stated: “We intend to draw the attention of license holders. Accordingly, we will make adjustments to bingo and reduced-stakes gaming devices in Class III gaming establishments.”
The measures aim to improve the protection of players with licensed Belgian operators.
Raising the legal age limit for gambling to 21 will bring sports betting, arcades and bingo up to the land-based casino age requirements that have been in place since 2018.
However, there are concerns that the new advertising regulations benefit illegal operators.
In January, the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators expressed opposition to a total ban on gambling advertising. The reason is that it could make consumers have difficulty distinguishing between legal and illegal operators.
Tom De Clercq, the president of BAGO, noted: “BAGO has repeatedly spoken out in favor of limiting advertising, including through traditional media.
But we also always warn of the risk of a total ban on advertising in places where illegal operators are massively present, especially online.
Therefore, we conclude that politicians ignore proposed solutions, opting for populist formulas.”
