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The Belgian gaming regulator Kansspelcommissie (KSC) has issued an endorsement of a proposed legislative bill aimed at strengthening player protection and enhancing regulatory oversight over gambling in Belgium.

The draft legislation’s key provisions include a proposed weekly deposit cap of €200 ($232.85) per gambling platform, a prohibition on gambling with credit, restrictions on the number of betting licences issued to newsagents and an extension of the national gambling self-exclusion register to include bars. The bill also proposes limits on the number of slot machines permitted in bar settings.

The bill also seeks to address the regulator’s concerns about its own operational capability and staff shortages. It proposes that the regulator must have at least 10 full-time members of staff, and it would also increase the maximum number of police officers that can be seconded to the commission be from four to eight.

While the KSC has broadly endorsed the bill’s objectives, it has recommended a phased rollout for certain measures, particularly the expansion of the exclusion system, which is expected to be fully implemented by May 2026. The commission also expressed some reservations about a total ban on credit card gambling.

The post Belgian Regulator Supports New Law for Tougher Player Protection and Increased Oversight appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

WATERFORD, Ireland, Aug. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Belgium has ignited a global debate by raising its legal gambling age from 18 to 21, citing concerns over gambling addiction. The move sets Belgium apart from other EU countries like Sweden, Germany, Finland, and Austria, where the legal gambling age is 18.

Miranda Raaff, Head of iGaming Information for casino resource portal, Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC), said there were striking disparities in legal age limits across activities like drivers licenses, smoking, alcohol consumption, gambling, and watching adult content.

“If Belgian lawmakers believe that 21 is the right age for gambling, then shouldn’t this age limit be instituted for all high-risk activities like drinking, smoking, driving, and watching porn? It seems arbitrary to single out gambling while leaving other equally, if not more risky behaviors less regulated. Perhaps, they should apply the same logic to all these activities.”

Raaff explored this further:

“What’s clear is that 18-year-olds in most countries are allowed access pornography. So, this is the perceived maturity level despite the dangers online,” said Raaff.

“Alcohol poses huge health risks, and driving a vehicle requires even more responsibility with potential life-threatening consequences, still, we allow 18-year-olds, and in some nations, even younger people to drive. Addiction is also not limited to gambling. It can also happen with alcohol, smoking, and porn.”

Belgium’s decision raises key questions about the perceived maturity of young adults. Raaff said a more holistic approach is needed – one that addresses all risky behaviors the same.

“We need a broader global debate about legal age. If we trust 18-year-olds driving, smoking, consuming alcohol, and accessing porn, why should gambling be treated differently? Protecting young adults means taking the same step. We also need to recognize that maturity levels do not change much between 18 and 21. By aligning these regulatory gaps, we will create a more realistic framework.”

Miranda Raaff – Head of iGaming Information
Email: [email protected]

Cell: +27 722 866 086

About MDC

MDC, a division of the OneTwenty Group, is an iGaming resource portal that reviews and recommends the most trusted and reliable online casinos globally. MDC conducts thorough vetting of casinos, focusing on safety, security, gaming licenses, responsible gambling tools, and fair gaming practices, to help players find regulated platforms.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ad79c896-79aa-4f46-9ce7-0126e71202d2