Belgium's strict policy on online sports betting is set to tighten up even further. Two new bills have been proposed by Christian Democratic and Flemish Party and Justice Minister Koen Geens, that will make the Belgium regulatory procedures some of the toughest inside Europe. According to members of the government, these amendments will protect the interests of players and safeguard minors and vulnerable groups. Sports betting sites on the other hand, although disgruntled, seem to passively accept the CDF proposals, as they mainly include advertisement bans and gambling warnings.
The proposed bills will lead to:
- Banning of gambling advertisements on television before 8pm
- Blocking of gaming advertisements during live sporting events
- Banning of on screen banners during games & commercials during half time
- Implementation of mandatory problem gambling warnings in marketing materials
Lastly, the CDF party has introduced a new measure that will raise minimum age requirements from 18 to 21. Any operators who breach the new regulations will be prosecuted and heavily fined.