Entain cleared over long-standing Belgium state aid case

The decision to grant Ladbrokes virtual betting rights in Belgium did not constitute state aid, the European Commission has ruled, in a decision that brought to an end more than five years of legal wrangling.

The original complaint in the case was lodged in 2019 by gaming operators Rocoluc NV and European Amusement Company, triggering an in-depth investigation by the European Commission, which has now concluded and found in favour of Ladbrokes’ parent company Entain.

The case centred around the operation of virtual betting in retail outlets in Belgium, as these types of games did not fall under any regulatory framework until Ladbrokes pursued them being regulated by the market.

This enabled Ladbrokes to operate virtual betting platforms in the country. However, it was alleged in the complaint that the regulator in Belgium denied multiple operators the same right when it came to operating virtuals.

Investigations by the European Commission saw a close examination of whether the ..