Belgium faces stricter gambling laws

A new draft law about the gambling regulations in the country was published in Belgium a few weeks ago. Among other things, this refers to increasing the minimum age required to be able to gamble to 21 years. Besides this, there should be a bonus ban. But what are the chances, that the requested measures are also implemented?

In October of the past year we reported, that a gambling reform will come into force in Belgium. Meanwhile many politicians are however demanding clearer stricter gambling regulations. The Belgian Green Parliamentarian Stefaan van Hecke presented a new draft bill at the end of January of this year. He is asking for clear stricter gambling regulations to protect the Belgian gamblers in the best possible way from the dangers of gambling. The Belgian newspaper De Standaard, among others, reported about it.

Draft bill is discussed controversially

The recent draft bill is very popular with some politicians in parliament. However there was large resistance to individual measures, so that it is questionable, which of the planned measures will finally be implemented.

Identification cards, among other things, will in the future be necessary to make use of betting terminals or slot machines. This measure is especially aimed to protect youths. In April 2021 we had already reported about similar plans in Germany and this was in an article which informed that Slot machines in pubs will soon be only permissible with age control and reconciliation bans.

According to the draft bill, the minimum age for gambling activities in Belgium will be increased to 21 years. Since this measure was received with a lot of opposition, it is conceivable that the minimum age for only particular types of gambling will be increased to 21 years. Only a few weeks ago, we reported about the fact, that the minimum age to visit a casino in Niedersachsen has been raised to 21 years.

Online casinos face bonus ban

If the Belgian Greens Parliamentarian van Hecke gets his way, then the online casinos should be completely forbidden from offering a welcome bonus or any other bonus offers. Further to this, the current draft bill strictly forbids gambling adverts, as well as sponsoring. This suggestion was met with incomprehension by the Belgian Justice Minister Vincent van Quickenborne among others.

Conclusion

The Belgian Greens Parliamentarian van Hecke wants to tighten the gambling laws in the country. Among other things he is planning a gambling advert ban, a higher minimum age of 21 years to be able to gamble, as well as a strict bonus ban for online casinos. We are excited to see which of these measures will be decided on and implemented. It is a fact that in the future the players in Belgium will also expect to see stricter gambling laws.

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