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Belgium Keeps Blacklisting Online Casinos

The Belgian Online Casino Blacklists Has New Inductees

Added: July 18, 2013

Belgium keeps getting stricter when it comes to online gambling legislation, consequently, their set of blacklisted online gambling operators is also growing. The Belgian Gaming Commission has added three off-shore gambling sites to their blacklist. As of today, the European Union has banned 78 online gambling sites altogether.

The latest inductees to the blacklist were Intercasino, Betsafe, and Casino-Belgie. Intercasino is a large brand that runs in many regions of the world and it belongs to Amaya Gaming, a software developing company. Betsafe is one of the leading brands developed by the renowned Scandinavian developer, Betsson. Casino-Belgie focuses solely on the Belgian market, but it is licensed in the Netherland Antilles.

The news have been shocking since Intercasino and Betsafe are highly reputable online gambling websites, they are considered to be among the most reliable and secure places to gamble on the web. They are licensed by the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority and hold all of the requirements to provide online gambling services. However, under Belgian legislation only Belgian licensed land-based companies can submit applications for online gambling licenses.

The Belgian Gaming Commission has ruled that any online gambling company that accepts Belgian customers and does not hold a license is subject to fines of up to €100,000. Other companies, like Bwin, have managed to partner with small land-based companies in Belgium in order to be considered for an online gaming license; however, they are only allowed to offer their services through their local partners and not as an off-shore company.

It is truly a shame to see Belgian players lose options when it comes to online casinos and poker rooms, especially because a lot of the sites on the blacklist are remarkable online casino operators with a long history of outstanding quality services.

It is not only players and operators who are upset about the Belgian approach to online gambling. The European Commission and European Gaming and Betting Association have been accusing Belgium of violating Economic Commission treaties of freedom of operation across European borders. Belgium implemented a stricter approach to online gambling regulation in 2008, and it seems like they are not eager to reconsider their ways. Do you think this is fair? What are your thoughts on online gaming regulation?