Belgium Legal Ruling Mandates Gambling Ban Checks for Bars and Online Lottery Services
Belgium is about to overhaul its gambling regulations in a major way, following a historic ruling by the Constitutional Court that demands comprehensive player-protection checks across all gambling platforms both online and in physical venues.
The court’s decision broadens the scope of existing rules, stating that checks for gambling bans must now include not only licensed gambling establishments but also bars and online lottery services. The ruling pointed out that it was unfair for some gambling products to be subject to screening against a national exclusion list, while others were not.
As a result, the legal exemptions currently allowing bars to operate without mandatory verification are being revoked. The court also ordered that online lottery games offered by the National Lottery must undergo prior gambling-ban checks. Additionally, it stipulated that these online lottery products should have a minimum age limit of 21.
In its findings, the court examined the current legal framework, which requires operators of gambling facilities to verify whether players are banned through the Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS). This database tracks individuals prohibited from gambling, and operators use it to restrict access accordingly.
The court acknowledged that this verification process is constitutional for licensed gambling venues but found it unjustifiable to exclude bars from the same level of scrutiny. Consequently, the court annulled the legal provisions that exempt bars from conducting such checks, though these exemptions will remain until December 31, 2027, giving lawmakers time to update the legislation.
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The ruling also impacts online lottery games operated by the National Lottery, which must now undergo the same prior check process before players can participate. The court emphasized that online lottery products pose comparable risks to other online gambling activities and should therefore adhere to similar safeguards.
Furthermore, the court set a minimum age of 21 for online lottery players, aligning online offerings with broader online gambling standards. Lawmakers are now tasked with resolving these disparities by the end of the year, bringing the National Lottery’s online services in line with the stricter compliance measures already in place for other online gambling activities. Belgium Court Gambling
