Betting: mandatory checks since 1 May
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23 May 2026 •
Reading time: 4 minutes
From 1 May 2026, anyone wishing to place a bet in a press shop must first be identified. The measure aims to prevent banned gamblers from continuing to bet in these establishments, thanks to an automatic check linked to the Gaming Commission’s central system. Christina Garvalova explained everything to Perstablo.
A rule that changes daily life in press shops
Until now, checks on those authorised to gamble were mainly associated with casinos, slot machine halls or betting shops. In these venues, entry or access to gambling involves a check to determine whether the person is legally permitted to participate. From now on, this approach also extends to press shops offering betting services.
Christina Garvalova explains that betting in press shops is not considered any less risky than that offered in specialist betting shops. This is why the legislator has decided to apply the same verification requirements there.
Why identify players before they place a bet?
Certain people are not permitted to take part in games of chance or betting. The reasons may relate to age, personal circumstances or an addiction problem.
People under the age of 21 are not permitted to take part in these activities. Others may be excluded due to their circumstances, for example if they are subject to collective debt settlement proceedings. There are also cases where players are banned due to gambling addiction, or following a court order or a request made by a third party.
These bans are recorded in a central system managed by the Gaming Commission called EPIS. It currently contains details of nearly 200,000 people.
How will in-store checks work?
The most visible change will concern the terminals used for betting. Machines installed in press shops will have to be fitted with a smart card reader. This will enable the player’s electronic identity card or electronic residence permit to be verified.
In practice, the customer will have to insert their card into the terminal. The machine will then automatically connect to EPIS. The information on the document will be read and checked. If the person is registered as a banned player, the terminal will indicate that the session cannot be opened.
If the system confirms that the person is authorised to play, the session may begin. It will remain active as long as the identity card or residence permit remains connected to the machine. If the player removes their document, the session will be interrupted or closed.
In some gaming establishments, the EPIS check can be carried out manually by the operator. In press shops, this will not be the case. The check must always be carried out directly on the terminal, using the smart card reader. The retailer will therefore not be able to enter the player’s identification details themselves to allow access to the bet.
This does not mean that the retailer no longer has any duty of care. They are advised to remain vigilant, particularly with regard to young players, and to ensure that no one uses a third party’s electronic ID card to circumvent the rules.
The reform provides for the existence of an operator card, supplied by the betting operator to the press shop. This card is linked to the newsagent’s authorisation and may only be used on the machines at the establishment in question. It may only be used when a check of the EPIS system status shows that it is not functioning for reasons beyond the operator’s control. This situation may arise, for example, during a technical fault reported to the Gaming Commission. In this exceptional situation, the press shop owner may activate the machine using their operator card. However, they may only do so after personally verifying the player’s identity and age.
What retailers must do from 1 May
From 1 May 2026, press shops must ensure that the machines used for betting are capable of supporting EPIS checks. If certain machines do not have the required system, they must be taken out of service so that no player can use them.
Failure to comply with the new requirements may result in various types of penalties. These may take the form of administrative fines. They may also extend to the suspension or withdrawal of licences.
This measure changes the way betting is offered in press shops. It imposes an additional step on the punter, but it avoids placing the entire burden of verification on the retailer.