Under Belgium’s gaming law, only businesses with land-based gaming operations have the right to extend their offerings online.

In 2019, a Belgian Constitutional Court annulled a royal decree which outlines the fees owed by online licence holders to cover administrative expenses at the Belgian Gambling Commission (BGC).

The European markets currently hold a 49.2% share in the entire global iGaming market. We predict that the industry is only going to grow and get bigger. Casino betting is usually lumped in with a general 'betting' group that includes bingo and lottery. But casino gambling has risen from 35.1% in 2013 from 32% in 2007. European Gaming. European Lotteries is the umbrella organisation of national lotteries operating games of chance for the public benefit., plaintext.

The court said there was no reason holders of A+ and B+ licences should pay different amounts for the ongoing supervision costs of the Belgium Gambling Commission.

Under the Royal Decree on 2020 licensing fees, the fee for a Class A licence is €22,085. In addition, under the terms of a Class A licence, casino licensees that operate gaming machines must pay €714 per machine, with a minimum total of €21,420.

On February 6, 2020, the Council of State annulled Article 1(1) and Article 3(2) and (3) in the Royal Decree of October 25, 2018 on the operation of online games of chance and betting. The Belgian Gaming Commission published information about the impact of these decisions on online gambling licensees on February 19, 2020.

However the courts have largely upheld recent crackdowns on gambling advertising that make it almost impossible for companies to market their brands outside of their own premises.

Other recent key developments include anti-money laundering (AML) requirements brought into force in October 2017 require operators to carry out due diligence measures when players wager stakes or collect winnings of €2,000 or more.

28.04.2020

BRUSSELS, 28 April 2020 – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has today published the first pan-European Code of Conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling. The Code is broad in scope and introduces essential standards for advertising content, across all media platforms, and dedicated measures for social media. The Code has a particular focus on minor protection.

The “Code of Conduct on Responsible Advertising for Online Gambling” intends to complement and strengthen existing legal and self-regulatory frameworks for online gambling advertising in Europe(1). The initiative has been developed in the context of the EU Audio Visual Media Services Directive, which emphasises the important role of self and co-regulation in protecting minors from exposure to gambling advertising(2).

The Code includes specific measures on:

• Content moderation – how gambling advertising should and should not look like.
• Minor protection – no gambling advertising during broadcasts dedicated to minors; age screening tools on social media to protect minors.
• First-of-their-kind measures for social media marketing – age-gating on the social media profiles of gambling brands to ensure minors do not have access.
• Pioneering measures for sponsorship arrangements – no sponsoring of activities which have a predominant appeal to minors.
• Responsible gambling messaging and campaigns.

The Code applies to EGBA members and is open for signature by online gambling companies licensed in the EU/EEA and UK, other gambling associations and representation bodies of the media sector. It is EGBA’s intention to ensure that compliance with the Code is monitored and enforced by an independent third-party.

The code has so far been endorsed by five national gambling associations: Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and Portugal.

The Code sets long-term standards for gambling advertising content in Europe and complements EGBA’s more immediate efforts to promote responsible gambling advertising during the coronavirus.

European Gambling And Betting Association Rules

EGBA mandated a third-party to analyse the impact of the Code on existing national regulations and self-regulation and the analysis found the Code to be broadly consistent and congruent with national requirements on gambling advertising. In some of the countries reviewed, the Code was even found to be overall stricter than the applicable national provisions. A summary of this analysis is available here.

“We’re very pleased to present EGBA’s Code of Conduct for responsible gambling advertising, which promotes high standards for minor protection and socially responsible advertising content. Advertising is essential to inform the consumer of the websites which are regulated and steer them away from rogue black-market websites. But advertising should be responsible and protect consumers, particularly minors. We encourage other gambling companies to sign up to the Code and look forward to engaging with Europe’s authorities to ensure its success.”– Maarten Haijer, Secretary General (EGBA).

European Gambling And Betting Association Of America

– ENDS –

(1) The Code applies to EU/EEA countries and the UK.
(2) Recital 30, Directive 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council, 14 November 2018.

European Gambling And Betting Association Convention

Key documents: