Free casino and poker apps to be banned in Belgium - Online gambling
Online poker landscape in Belgium has been overshadowed by threatening clouds in recent days. Actually, the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) has launched a fight against illegitimate e-gambling industry with a view to protect vulnerable players over gambling addiction. Following the implementation of the tax bill targeting Belgiums top earners (their earnings are subject to over 75% of tax), free casino and poker applications now lie in the sights of the commission. The attack was carried out four years ago with the release of the online gambling blacklist (online poker included) following the adoption of a new law on Belgian online gaming market. And this time, free mobile poker and casino apps are to join the banned group. Thus, it would come as no surprise if we see a free e-gambling apps blacklist blacklist emerge in the coming days.
The unsettled issue is that, in one hand, the BGC wants to ban free mobile applications related to poker and casino from the grasp of under-age gamblers, while in the other one, mobile application developers call for the integration of certain age verification software within their apps. Note that on March 12, 2014-dated blacklist, the BGC named 97 gambling sites unauthorized to operate in Belgium. Banned platforms include notorious poker giants such as Winamax, William Hill, Everest, Betfair, 888, Titan and Betsson. It is also worth noting that playing on illegal gambling sites is punishable by a fine of up to 25,000 in Belgium. The new law only gives the green light to online gaming operators that weave partnerships with local brick-and-mortar casinos.
Source: Jack SMITH
Friday, 03 October 2014
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