Belgium Gambling Laws
Belgium passes online gambling law
2K still asserted that loot boxes did not violate Belgium's gambling laws, and encouraged players to contact their local representatives regarding these removals. 155 Blizzard Entertainment will block Belgian players of Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm from buying loot boxes, though they can still earn these through in-game rewards. Legal online casino’s Belgium. Playing at a legal online casino has several advantages in comparison with a land-based casino or a gambling hall. First of all, it’s much easier to play at an online casino than a land-based casino or a gambling hall. You don’t have to leave your house to take a gamble.
On Thursday 3 December, in landmark proceedings, the Belgian Parliament voted in favour of adopting an online gambling law, which will enter into force early 2010.
Is Gambling Illegal In Belgium
The new legislation specifies that licences will be issued to gambling operators already established in Belgium and who either already operate a casino (category A), gaming and amusement machines outside casinos (category B) or bookmakers (category C). The Belgian lottery in all its associated forms will also be made available online.
Belgium Gambling Laws 2020
The draft law was originally notified to the European Commission and the other Member States on 27 March 2009. The restrictions on licences prompted a Detailed Opinion from the European Commission, which claimed that some aspects were not compatible with the single market obligations. The Belgian government therefore made some minor amendments but chose to retain the part which stipulates that online gaming licences will only be complementary to already existing land-based licences within Belgium.
It is widely believed that further to the recent ECJ ruling on the ‘Bwin-Santa Casa’ case in early September 2009, the Belgian government decided to overlook the recommendations of the Commission. The ECJ ruled in favour of the Portuguese monopoly of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, therefore upholding the validity of the state’s online gambling monopoly, citing ‘it may be justified by over-riding reasons relating to the public interest’.
Once the law comes into effect in Belgium in early 2010, it is certain that it will face legal challenges from online gambling operators and possible infringement proceedings from the European Commission.
This may indeed set a precedent for other Member States in the EU who are considering the option of regulating their online gambling markets or who are revisiting their existing online gambling regimes.