BwinParty co-CEO questioned in Belgium

Party co-CEO Norbert Teufelberger has been questioned by Belgian authorities over the online operator’s activities in the country.

Teufelberger complied voluntarily with a request to attend an interview with representatives from the Belgium Gambling Commission and has now left the country as planned following two hours of questioning.

Online gaming licences in Belgium are restricted to operators who are partnered with land-based casinos, meaning BwinParty are blacklisted in the country and have had three of their websites blocked.

Teufelberger reportedly told analysts in November that his company still had “some Belgian business” because website blocking was never 100% safe.

Reacting to the reported comments, Peter Naessens, legal adviser to the Belgian Gaming Commission, said: “They [bwin.party] are saying loud and clear that they do not want to respect the Belgian legislation.”

Naessens had also confirmed the Commission’s desire to question Mr Teufelberger over his alleged comments.

BwinParty maintain they are acting in, and have always acted in, compliance with applicable laws, adding that they intended to continue their on-going dialogue with the BGC.

The world’s largest listed online gaming group believe that Belgian gambling legislation is in breach of European law.

BwinParty co-CEOS Norbert Teufelberger and Jim Ryan said in a statement: “We have been at the forefront of regulatory change in Europe for several years and we have licences in Gibraltar, Alderney, Denmark, France, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein), Italy and Spain.

“We continue to strive for a regulatory framework in European Member States that is compliant with EU law.”