Belgian opposition party calls for further gambling restrictions

Christian Democratic and Flemish Party (CDV), one of the leading opposition parties in the Belgian parliament, has proposed further restrictions on the country's licensed gambling industry.

Representatives from the CDV have called for a uniform age limit increase from 18 to 21 years on all forms of licensed gambling services including lottery, casino and sports betting.

CDV MPs have also said that the effectiveness of the 2009 Gambling Act, which regulates gambling in Belgium should be reviewed or revised following a marked increase in the number of international gambling firms targeting Belgian consumers.

The proposals follow a similar ‘get tough on gambling’ initiative in June by CDV MP and Belgian Minister of Justice Koen Geens, who proposed a five-point plan which would see: the banning of gambling advertisements on television before 8pm, the complete blocking of any gaming advertisements during live sporting events, and setting restrictions on a number of TV advertisements served by individual betting operators.

Measures proposed also included the inclusion of gambling helpline numbers and information to be attached to all gambling-related advertising and an increase in the amount of fines being given to operators seen to be breaching regulations.

The tightening of restrictions on the Belgian gambling industry has support from MPs from both sides of the Belgian parliament and officials from the Belgian Gaming Commission, who have long called on the Belgian government to increase their remit.