Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2024 Belgium

Gambling Laws and Regulations Belgium 2024

ICL G-Gamblin g-related law s-Belgium chapters will feature general issues in gamblin g-related laws (related authorities, laws, licenses, license restrictions, digital media, enforcement, responsibilities, etc.).

Chapter Content Free Access

1. Related authorities and laws
2. License application and license restriction
3. Online / mobile / digital / electronic media
4. Execution and responsibility
5. Expected reform

1. Relevant Authorities and Legislation

1. 1 Which kind of gambling and social / skill gaming activities do you regulate in your jurisdiction?

2. Application for a Licence and Licence Restrictions

Sports/ Horse Racing Betting (when it is regulated separately from the betting of other forms)

Fantasy betting (payment to support the selection of "league" and "portfolio" over a certain period of time, such as sports and stocks)

lottery

Social/ Skill Arrangement

"Social" game that does not prize money or financial value

Skill games and competitions without accidental elements
1. 2 identifying: (i) Law and regulations applied to related products in the customer's law, and (II) permission or ban on providing related products to those who are located in the customer's law.
May 7, 1999 (Wet van 7 Mei 1999 OP de Kansspelen, de Weddenschappen, de KanspelinrichTingen and de Bescherming Van de Spelers All items that are eligible for WS OF JANUARY 10, 2010) , The gaming committee is regulated. This includes all gambling and betting. ICL G-Gamblin g-related law s-Belgium chapters will feature general issues in gamblin g-related laws (related authorities, laws, licenses, license restrictions, digital media, enforcement, responsibilities, etc.).
1. Related authorities and laws

2. License application and license restriction

3. Online / mobile / digital / electronic media

4. Execution and responsibility
5. Expected reform
1. 1 Which kind of gambling and social / skill gaming activities do you regulate in your jurisdiction?
Related products
Who regulates in digital format?
Who regulates in the lan d-based form?
Gaming
Casino games (including casino table games such as slots, roulette, blackjack)

Betting

Sports/ Horse Racing Betting (when it is regulated separately from the betting of other forms)

Fantasy betting (payment to support the selection of "league" and "portfolio" over a certain period of time, such as sports and stocks)

lottery

Social/ Skill Arrangement

"Social" game that does not prize money or financial value

Skill games and competitions without accidental elements

1. 2 identifying: (i) Law and regulations applied to related products in the customer's law, and (II) permission or ban on providing related products to those who are located in the customer's law.

Because it is not regarded as an accidental game, the items that are out of the scope of this law are as follows: Promotion contests that do not include the elements of coincidence (excluding sweepstakes), the maximum without providing sports activities or financial interests. Games that can continue to play up to 5 times, card games or parlor games played outside the game facilities without providing financial interests; games used in amusement parks and trade fairs, special events For that, games sponsored by local associations four times a year, temporary games sponsored by no n-profit organizations with social or charitable cause, no n-profit organizations for social or charitable principles. 。

The gaming committee is a committee consisting of two representatives from the chairman and five ministry and agencies (the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Health).

Local governments regulate construction permissions and business permits for casinos, gambling areas and gambling grounds. The permission does not necessarily have the same conditions or the same period as gambling licenses, so it is unknown whether the license will be maintained when a gambling license is updated at a casino. Not, it has been in a difficult situation in which we have to renew our permission for 30 years.

Chance Games, Bet, Gaming Facilities, and Players Protection of Protection Van de Spelers, 2010 1 The two laws on the 10th of the month specify that all chance games, bet games, and gaming facilities are prohibited unless they are approved by KanspelCommissie. Providing these unrecognized games is prohibited, but if you are aware that it is a game that is not approved, it is also forbidden to advertise or participate in that game. 。

A coincidence games refers to all activities that combine direct or indirect payment by players and to win or lose something as long as this coincidence depends on the coincidence as long as it depends on the coincidence. < SPAN> Because it is not regarded as an accidental game, the matters outside the range of this law are as follows: Promotion contests (excluding sweepstakes) that do not contain elements of coincidence, providing sports activities and financial interests. Games that can continue to play up to five times, card games or parlors played outside the game facilities without providing financial benefits; games used in amusement parks and trade fairs. Sponsored games sponsored by local associations 4 times a year for special events, no n-profit organizations for social or charitable principles, and no n-profit organizations for social or charitable principles Games, etc.
The gaming committee is a committee consisting of two representatives from the chairman and five ministry and agencies (the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Health).
Local governments regulate construction permissions and business permits for casinos, gambling areas and gambling grounds. The permission does not necessarily have the same conditions or the same period as gambling licenses, so it is unknown whether the license will be maintained when a gambling license is updated at a casino. Not, it has been in a difficult situation in which we have to renew our permission for 30 years.
Chance Games, Bet, Gaming Facilities, and Players Protection of Protection Van de Spelers, 2010 1 The two laws on the 10th of the month specify that all chance games, bet games, and gaming facilities are prohibited unless they are approved by KanspelCommissie. Providing these unrecognized games is prohibited, but if you are aware that it is a game that is not approved, it is also forbidden to advertise or participate in that game. 。
A coincidence games refers to all activities that combine direct or indirect payment by players and to win or lose something as long as this coincidence depends on the coincidence as long as it depends on the coincidence. Because it is not regarded as an accidental game, the items that are out of the scope of this law are as follows: Promotion contests that do not include the elements of coincidence (excluding sweepstakes), the maximum without providing sports activities or financial interests. Games that can continue to play up to 5 times, card games or parlor games played outside the game facilities without providing financial interests; games used in amusement parks and trade fairs, special events For that, games sponsored by local associations four times a year, temporary games sponsored by no n-profit organizations with social or charitable cause, no n-profit organizations for social or charitable principles. 。
The gaming committee is a committee consisting of two representatives from the chairman and five ministry and agencies (the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Health).
Local governments regulate construction permissions and business permits for casinos, gambling areas and gambling grounds. The permission does not necessarily have the same conditions or the same period as gambling licenses, so it is unknown whether the license will be maintained when a gambling license is updated at a casino. Not, it has been in a difficult situation in which we have to renew our permission for 30 years.

A coincidence games refers to all activities that combine direct or indirect payment by players and to win or lose something as long as this coincidence depends on the coincidence as long as it depends on the coincidence.

As a result, commercial contests, sweepstakes, lotteries sponsored by advertisers, personal poker games, and bingo games are restricted or even prohibited.

Other applicable laws include Boek Vi VI VITBOEK ECONOMISCH ECHT BETREFFENDE Consumentenbescherming En MarktprakTijken). A series of rules applied to the servants (to consumers) Includes information, fair trading practices, remote sales of online gambling, etc.).

The Law on December 31, 1851 (Wet Van 31 Decementer 1851 OP de Loterijen) gives Belgia n-owned lottery the monopoly of all lottery games, prizes scratch card games, and symbola games.

Several articles of the Belgian Criminal Code have certified illegal gambling acts (Article 301, 302, Article 303, Article 304).

Regarding the permission of offline casinos and gambling holes, local architectural regulations and development regulations are related.

In addition, the sel f-regulated sector code for gambling activities dating back to October 2016 has been replaced by a new law that restricts advertising in gambling activities since early 2019.

The imperial order on March 8, 2023 will all be banned from television, radio, movie theaters, social media, social media, online advertisements, signboards, and gambling advertisements in public places since July 1, 2023.

2. 1 To legally provide related products to those in your jurisdiction area, any regulation license, permission, approval, or other public approval (hereinafter collectively "license") is required. Is it?

All online and lan d-based gambling and betting require a license. The license system is limited for each category (see question 2. 2), and online activities are based on individual licenses that can be obtained only by providers who already have lan d-based licenses.

2. 2 If the license is available, the structure of the relevant license system should be overview.

The law distinguishes nine types of licenses.

The gaming industry provider must obtain one or more licenses according to the nature of their activities:

Class 1 activities (casinos) require license A, and if you include games and beds on the Internet, you need to add a license A+.

Class 2 activities (amusement facilities) require license B.

Class 3 activities (facilities that sell alcohol) require a license C to obtain permission to use up to two games (bingo and/ oneball).

Class 4 activities (bookmakers) require license F. A license F2 (gaming facility) that runs a bed with a license F1 holder's account requires a license F2. License F+is required for the Internet bed.

2. 3 What kind of procedure is required to apply for a license for related products?

The application must be submitted to the gaming committee by registered mail, including the format described in the attached document 1 of several imperial orders:
In the case of class A: The imperial order on July 19, 2001 is related to the method of conducting and operating the class I, the method of licensing, and the form of gambling in class A.
In the case of Class B: Imperial order for the operation and management of class II gaming facilities, how to apply for class B license and format on December 22, 2000.
In the case of class C: In the case of the operation and management of class III gaming facilities, December 22, 2000, the application method and format of the class C license.
In the case of class D: The Imperial Diary on June 20, 2002 on the skills and certificates required to perform professional activities at Type 1 or Type 2 gambling field.
Class E: Imperial edict on December 22, 2000 on the format of the application form and class E license.
Class F1: License class F1 format, application form for license class F1, method of application, management and accounting, the license holder, December 22, 2010, on December 22, 2010. < SPAN> Class 1 activity (casino) requires license A, and if you include games and beds on the Internet, you need additional license A+.
Class 2 activities (amusement facilities) require license B.

Class 3 activities (facilities that sell alcohol) require a license C to obtain permission to use up to two games (bingo and/ oneball).

Betting

2. 3 What kind of procedure is required to apply for a license for related products?

The application must be submitted to the gaming committee by registered mail, including the format described in the attached document 1 of several imperial orders:

In the case of class A: The imperial order on July 19, 2001 is related to the method of conducting and operating the class I, the method of licensing, and the form of gambling in class A.
In the case of Class B: Imperial order for the operation and management of class II gaming facilities, how to apply for class B license and format on December 22, 2000.
In the case of class C: In the case of the operation and management of class III gaming facilities, December 22, 2000, the application method and format of the class C license.
In the case of class D: The Imperial Diary on June 20, 2002 on the skills and certificates required to perform professional activities at Type 1 or Type 2 gambling field.
Class E: Imperial edict on December 22, 2000 on the format of the application form and class E license.
Class F1: License class F1 format, application form for license class F1, method of application, management and accounting, the license holder, December 22, 2010, on December 22, 2010. Class 1 activities (casinos) require license A, and if you include games and beds on the Internet, you need to add a license A+.
Class 2 activities (amusement facilities) require license B.
Class 3 activities (facilities that sell alcohol) require a license C to obtain permission to use up to two games (bingo and/ oneball).
Class 4 activities (bookmakers) require license F. A license F2 (gaming facility) that runs a bed with a license F1 holder's account requires a license F2. License F+is required for the Internet bed.
2. 3 What kind of procedure is required to apply for a license for related products?
The application must be submitted to the gaming committee by registered mail, including the format described in the attached document 1 of several imperial orders:

In the case of class A: The imperial order on July 19, 2001 is related to the method of conducting and operating the class I, the method of licensing, and the form of gambling in class A.

In the case of Class B: Imperial order for the operation and management of class II gaming facilities, how to apply for class B license and format on December 22, 2000.

In the case of class C: In the case of the operation and management of class III gaming facilities, December 22, 2000, the application method and format of the class C license.

3. Online/Mobile/Digital/Electronic Media

In the case of class D: The Imperial Diary on June 20, 2002 on the skills and certificates required to perform professional activities at Type 1 or Type 2 gambling field.

Class E: Imperial edict on December 22, 2000 on the format of the application form and class E license.

Class F1: License class F1 format, application form for license class F1, method of application, management and accounting, the license holder, December 22, 2010, on December 22, 2010.

Class F2: A class F2 license style, a class F2 license application, and how to judge, and on December 22, 2010, the obligations that the class F2 license holders should meet for management and accounting.

In the case of class G1, the format of the class G1 license, the application for the class G1 license, the method of examination, and the duty of the license holder on June 21, 2011.

This format will be sent to the applicant from the gaming commission in response to the applicant's request. For class G and F license, electronic procedures are also possible.

2. 4 Are there any restrictions on licensing in jurisdiction?

All licenses held by natural people require that person to fully hold civil and political rights and meet the requirements of their status. If Licensee is a corporation, its directors and administrators must meet similar requirements. (31, 36, 41, 43/5, 43/10, 45, 50).

4. Enforcement and Liability

All licensed A or B holders must be registered as a commercial company in the KruisputBank van onDernemingen. < SPAN> Class F2: Class F2 license style, class F2 license application form, and clown on December 22, 2010 regarding the obligations that the class F2 license holders should satisfy with the management and accounting.

In the case of class G1, the format of the class G1 license, the application for the class G1 license, the method of examination, and the duty of the license holder on June 21, 2011.

This format will be sent to the applicant from the gaming commission in response to the applicant's request. For class G and F license, electronic procedures are also possible.

2. 4 Are there any restrictions on licensing in jurisdiction?

License A, C, C, E, F1, F2, G1, G1, G1, and G1 holders need to obtain statements from the Finance Bureau that all confirmation and unpaid tax debt is fulfilled.

All licensed A or B holders must be registered as a commercial company in the KruisputBank van onDernemingen. Class F2: A class F2 license style, a class F2 license application, and how to judge, and on December 22, 2010, the obligations that the class F2 license holders should meet for management and accounting.

In the case of class G1, the format of the class G1 license, the application for the class G1 license, the method of examination, and the duty of the license holder on June 21, 2011.

This format will be sent to the applicant from the gaming commission in response to the applicant's request. For class G and F license, electronic procedures are also possible.

2. 4 Are there any restrictions on licensing in jurisdiction?

License A, C, C, E, F1, F2, G1, G1, G1, and G1 holders need to obtain statements from the Finance Bureau that all confirmation and unpaid tax debt is fulfilled.

5. Anticipated Reforms

Betting

All licensed A or B holders must be registered as a commercial company in the KruisputBank van onDernemingen.

Production Editor's Note

There are only nine A licenses available in Belgium (Article 29), which means that there are only nine casinos in the whole country: Blankenberge, Chaudfontaine, Dinant, Knokke-Heist, Middelkerke, Namen, Ostend, Spa and one out of the 19 communes in the Brussels-Capital Region. In these communes, only one casino is permitted, and it is permitted after the commune concludes a concession agreement with the applicant. Both table games and auto games are permitted, and the average loss per hour for each game is set at 70 euros.

Licenses A are only given to applicants who hold a valid concession issued by the municipality where the first type gambling house will be located.
Currently, there are 180 licenses B, of which 179 are actually in use by license holders. Due to a change in the law in 2015, this number has been reduced to 150 since 2017. License B premises cannot be located in close proximity to schools, hospitals, places frequented by adolescents, places of worship or prisons. The average loss per hour is set at 25 euros.

In sync: Living with the rules in Belgium

To be granted a License B, the licensee must present an agreement issued by the municipality in which the Class 2 gaming premises is located, which is to be concluded as a condition of the grant of the licence.

The number of F1 licensees is limited to 34 on Belgian territory. Mobile betting offices are limited to a total of 60 F2 license holders. Fixed office license holders are limited to 1, 000 people. Following a change in the law in 2015, this number was reduced to 600 from 2017.

2. 5 Please provide an overview of the following characteristics of the licences: (i) their validity period, (ii) their vulnerability to review, suspension and cancellation.

Class A licences are valid for 15 years.

Class B licences are valid for 9 years.

Class C licences are valid for 5 years.

Class E licenses are valid for 10 years.

Class F licenses are valid for 9 years.

Dealing with the rules

Class G1 licenses are valid for 5 years.

Class G2 licenses are valid for 1 year.

Licenses may expire or be suspended if the license conditions are no longer met. There are no periodic reviews, but there is constant monitoring by the Gaming Commission.

2. 6 By relevant product, what are the main restrictions on providing services to customers? Please include any significant promotional or advertising restrictions in your answer.

The main restriction for License A is the minimum age for entering a casino, which is 21 years old.

For License B, the minimum age is 18 years old. It is prohibited to have restaurants or bars in the places where gambling is performed.

For License C, the minimum age for customers is 18 years old, but unlike Licenses A and B, the law does not require age verification at the entrance.

For License F2, the minimum age is 18 years old.

For License G2, customers must also be 18 years old or older.

2. 7 Taxation and other compulsory collections?

Taxation of games of chance is regulated by articles 43 to 93 of the "Act on Taxes Equivalent to Income Tax" (Wetboek van de inkomstenbelastingen gelijkgestelde belastingen van 23 november 1965).

Taxation of games of chance is a regional competence, so the three regions have different tax rates. Currently, taxes are collected by the federal government, but as of January 1, 2017, Flanders has taken responsibility for tax collection on its territory.

A general tax of 15% (11% in Wallonia) is levied on the total amount of bets. National lotteries, pigeon races (where participants place bets) and games of chance organised by non-profit organisations are exempt from this tax.

All horse and dog races are subject to a 15% tax. This amount is levied on the total profits. A 2015 Flemish government decree (Decreet van 3 juli 2015 houdende bepalingen tot begeleiding van de begroting 2015) extended the 15% flat tax to horse and dog races and sporting events outside the EU.

If bets are placed online, 11% is levied on the total profits, calculated by deducting the amount paid to the bettor from the total amount of bets.

Leading channels

The taxable person is the person placing the bet.

Besides this general tax regime, casinos are taxed on their gross margins depending on the type of game.

There is a fixed tax on the gaming machines themselves, which applies to machines in class A, B and C establishments.

2. 8 What are the broader social responsibility requirements?

Game rooms must be strictly separated from spaces with other purposes within the gaming establishment and from spaces accessible to the public outside the gaming establishment so that gambling games cannot be traced from outside the gaming room.

A draft code of ethics has been under consideration for years, but has not yet been approved. This code of ethics would likely include:

Privacy of players

Where next?

Prohibition of abuse of unauthorized games

Obligation to report to the Gaming Commission when holding demonstration games

Prohibition of advertising focusing on weak players

Prohibition of certain content in advertising campaigns

Obligation to inform game players and staff

Guarantees of payment in case of winning

Prohibition of accepting gifts from game players.

In October 2016, the gambling sector agreed on a self-regulatory sector code on the advertising of gambling activities, including the obligation to refrain from advertising to minors and to include warning messages in all advertising materials, but this has been replaced by a new law restricting the advertising of gambling activities since the beginning of 2019.

Elim Poon - Journalist, Creative Writer

Last modified: 27.08.2024

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