Belgium sends tough new gambling regulations to E.C. for approval

The Belgian government Council of Ministers has sent restrictive new online gambling regulations to the European Commission for approval that on implementation could make promotional and advertising activity significantly more difficult.

Our readers may recall our report last month in which the new regulations – at that stage being presented to the Council of Ministers – were outlined.

They included a ban on advertising bonuses anywhere but on an operator’s own website, and a similar ban on advertising online casino activity, although it appears that text, email and social media promotion may be allowed under the “personalised advertising” section.

December’s draft included regulations imposing an 8pm watershed in regard to televised gambling adverts, except in the case of sports events, when gambling ads were permitted before and after such matches but not during the events.

The draft included a ban on shirt and strip sponsorships, and a prohibition on any gambling advertising during programs aimed at children, although 15 minutes before or after was permitted.
Advertisers were required to add responsible gambling warnings to their material

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