Belgian authorities introduce separation of gambling products into thematic sites

Belgian authorities introduce separation of gambling products into thematic sites

Belgian authorities have implemented the separation of gambling products

Belgian operators will no longer be able to offer certain online entertainment products on the same website. The rule was adopted after the country's Constitutional Court upheld the repeal of the 1999 gambling law.

 

The 22-year-old legislation has largely been replaced by 2019 regulations. But the fresh change means that online gambling (A ) and sports betting (F1 ) verticals must be offered on separate websites - exactly what local gambling operators opposed not so long ago.

 

Back in 2018, the Belgian Constitutional Court ruled that the verticals should be separated. This came after operator Rocoluc took its competitors to court, arguing that they had a significant advantage in attracting users if they offered online casino and betting services on the same site.

 

The company insisted that land-based gambling sites in Belgium are not allowed to offer different verticals in the same location. Rocoluc wanted to ensure that this regulation also applied to the online sector here.

 

The court eventually agreed and ruled that online gambling should be treated in the same way as land-based gambling. Otherwise, the sector would benefit from "cumulative exploitation", allowing it to benefit from increased visibility and economies of scale.

 

Belgian gambling regulator Commission des Jeux de Hasard (CJH) reported a significant increase in online casino and betting users during the UEFA European Championship, which ended on 11 July. Meanwhile, the State Council of Ministers has approved a progressive bill that aims to reduce the weekly deposit limit for gambling enthusiasts to €200. Previously, similar measures had already been legally enforced in Sweden and Finland.