Betting will be allowed only for people over 21 years old in Belgium from September

The changes to the country's Gaming Act were announced by the Gaming Commission on its website, after being published in the Belgian Official Gazette.

Advertising to promote games is also banned
The commission announced that the new laws, which come into force on 1 September 2024, include:

A ban on "3.3" devices
A ban on accumulating online licences on the same portal
A ban on offers/bonuses/games at no cost
A ban on advertising gambling in general A minimum age of 21 and refunds in the event of a lack of control.
The commission also stated: "We want to warn licence holders. That's why we're going to make changes to bingo machines and reduced stakes games in class III gaming venues."

The aim of the measures is to increase player protection with Belgian licensed operators.

Raising the legal age for gambling to 21 will bring sports betting, arcades and bingo into line with the age requirements in land-based casinos that have been in force since 2018.

However, there are fears that the new advertising rules will favour illegal operators.

In January, the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators opposed a total ban on gambling advertising. The reason is that this could make it difficult for consumers to differentiate between legal and illegal operators.

Tom De Clercq, the president of BAGO, said: "BAGO has constantly defended the restriction of advertising, including by traditional media. But we have also always warned about the danger of a total ban on advertising in places where illegal operators are very present, especially online. That's why we think politicians despise suggested solutions, opting instead for populist formulas."