The Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie) has published its advice on the draft bill to introduce consumer protection measures and address staffing hurdles to ensure better compliance and enforcement of the 1999 Gambling Act. The report acknowledges the fallacies highlighted in the draft bill and shares the challenges facing the Gaming Commission and solutions to the problem.
Kansspelcommissie Mulls Gambling Draft Bill Recommendations: Key Points at a Glance
- The Gaming Commission is facing a severe manpower deficit. It recommends enlisting at least 10 full-time staff members and a minimum of eight police officers to ensure smooth daily operations.
- The draft law recommends limiting games of chance to two at bars. The GC argues that instead of limiting the number of games, lawmakers should restrict the number of licensed operators to dissuade consumers from participating.
- The GC recommends restricting bingo permits at cafés and bookshops, prohibiting credit-related casino payments, and reducing the maximum weekly deposit limit for defaulters from €200 to €50.
Belgian Draft Gambling Bill Endorses Amendments to Bolster Player Protection
The Belgian Gaming Commission has published its advice on a draft bill, which seeks to amend the 1999 Gambling Act. The new bill will grant the GC additional powers to enforce regulatory compliance, ensure player protection, and redefine weekly deposit limits for players with a history of defaulting on gambling-related debt payments.
The draft bill, authored by Ecolo-Groen ministers Stefaan Van Hecke, Sarah Schlitz, and seven others, aims to introduce provisions to modernise Belgian gambling laws. As online gambling continues to grow popular in the EU, with online casinos in Ireland, the UK, and neighbouring Germany attracting new players daily, Belgian lawmakers feel the need for stronger regulations to safeguard local consumers.
The draft bill, Parliamentary Document 56K0230, has recommended several provisions to strengthen oversight, including increasing regulatory manpower, indexing the annual contributions from gambling operators, restricting the number of betting games available at bookshops, extending the self-exclusion framework (EPIS) to cafés, and restricting gambling with credit-related payment systems.
Belgian Gaming Commission Suggests Additional Measures from “Experience and Expertise”
The Gaming Commission, in its latest report, has acknowledged most of the draft bill’s recommendations while suggesting actionable steps from its “experience and expertise with the members of the Chamber so that they can make informed political decisions”. The GC recommends employing at least 10 full-time staff members in its monitoring unit and 8 police officers to improve oversight and enforcement.
The GC has also requested autonomy in staff recruitment and training programmes to coordinate more efficiently with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other enforcement agencies in matters related to AML/CFT. Several European Nations are now stepping up efforts to prevent financial crimes using online gambling platforms. Gibraltar was recently removed from the FATF Grey List after it complied with the European Commission’s recommendations.
To compensate for the higher expenses, the GC has suggested increasing taxes on gambling operations. It has also recommended abolishing the current system of gambling limits, in which the National Bank of Belgium intervenes, to save an estimated €600,000 annually. The GC recommended restricting the number of gaming venues instead of limiting the number of games available at these venues.
The use of the Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS) will be mandatory in bookshops offering games of chance from May 1, 2026. Germany recently published its OASIS 2024 self-exclusion report, highlighting a sharp increase in registrations. The report showcases a positive trend in player protection measures across the EU.
The Gaming Commission has recommended that the EPIS framework be implemented in cafés hosting games of chance. The regulator has insisted that lawmakers strengthen licensing regulations to limit bingo operations at cafés and bookshops.
While Belgium does not allow gambling using credit cards, third-party payment systems leverage legal loopholes to continue offering gambling on credit. The GC has recommended that lawmakers empower banks to monitor and flag credit transactions related to gambling for stricter oversight.
It has also recommended lowering the minimum weekly deposit amount from €200 to €50 for players with bad credit history. Players who wish to increase the limit must prove their financial stability. The GC has expressed willingness to continue discussions with Members of Parliament to find long-term solutions for a sustainable gambling industry.