The decision follows January’s approval of new player protection amendments to be added to the Belgian Gambling Act of 1999.
The mandate was approved by the Chamber of Representatives, which endorsed a decree by Green Party Minister Stefaan Van Hecke to overhaul the Gambling Act’s consumer protections by adopting tougher compliance measures.
As such, Belgium joins Greece in becoming the second EU member state to apply a minimum 21-year age requirement on all forms of gambling (online and land-based).
Prior to the decree, Belgium had applied a 21-year age restriction on access to land-based casinos and arcades. New rules will no longer allow bars, clubs, and recreational centres to operate slot machines.
The decree has further tightened Belgium’s blanket ban on gambling advertising, whic..
