Belgium’s lead opposition party, the centre-right Christian Democratic and Flemish Party (CDV) has proposed further measures to Parliament restricting licensed gambling services for Belgian consumers.
This week CDV representatives proposed a ‘uniform age limit’ increase to 21-years on all forms of licensed gambling for both land-based and digital services (lottery, casino and betting).
The party has requested that Belgium’s Parliament reviews its new proposal to increase the age limit on gambling to 21-years, having tabled new measures on limiting gambling advertising on all Belgian media verticals.
A number of CDV MPs have backed calls for tougher protections to be added to Belgium’s 2009 Gambling Act, stating that the framework of the bill is no longer functional due to the marked increase in international bookmakers actively targeting Belgian consumers.
Last June CDV MP Koen Geens proposed a ‘five point plan’ be introduced to Belgium media laws in order to curve gambling marketing targeting minors and the vulnerable. Measures included:
- A ban on all gambling-related advertising during sports broadcasts
- A Belgium 8 pm watershed on advertising of gambling-related services
- Setting restrictions on a number of TV advertisements served by individual betting operators.
- Inclusion of gambling helpline numbers and information to be attached to all gambling-related advertising
- Steeper fines and penalties for betting operators and media owners that breach the new code of standards
Koen Geens warned the governing Belgium Liberal coalition government, that his proposal had gained cross party support.
Source: SBC News
