## Belgian Authorities Reduce Online Wagering Permits – iGB
The Belgian Gaming Authority (BGA) has declared that the quantity of online sports wagering licenses available in the nation will be decreased to thirty.
This signifies the BGA will issue one fewer sports wagering license, dropping from thirty-one to thirty. This total only became effective last year, after being lowered from thirty-four.
The new regulations were introduced through a Royal Decree and published in the Belgian Official Gazette.
The announcement states that the new regulations apply for a nine-year period from July 31, 2022, to July 31, 2031, and impact F1 licenses, which permit online gambling.
The rule change occurs amidst a broader tightening of gambling regulations in Belgium. In July, a Royal Decree introduced a €200 weekly deposit limit for online gambling participants across all categories, effective from October 20.
In a statement related to the new deposit rules, the regulator offered advice on safe gambling: “To avoid the risk of becoming a problem gambler and to keep the game enjoyable, it is recommended not to spend more than 5% of your income for this purpose.
“If you win €2,000, this means your deposit limit should not exceed €25 per week.”
During the month of May, the Belgian administration put forward a sweeping prohibition on all types of wagering promotions, with the exception of the national lottery. The Belgian Consumers’ Association, known as Bago, voiced their disapproval of the comprehensiveness of the ruling, as it failed to consider the actual disparities in risk levels between various forms of gambling:
“Research has revealed that no game of chance is entirely devoid of risk. For instance, scratch cards carry the same level of risk as sports betting,” Bago stated.
“Consequently, one cannot help but question whether the government’s decision genuinely prioritizes the interests of consumers.”
The advertising ban is presently in a state of “temporary suspension” at the request of the Maltese government, which has the potential to postpone the implementation of the new legislation.
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