End of gifts and benefits for players

The Gaming Commission has just tightened the rules on commercial practices in the gambling sector. Indeed, a new interpretation of Article 60 of the Gambling Act, which came into force on 1 September 2024, puts an end to certain common practices aimed at attracting or retaining players.

Reminder of Article 60

Article 60 of the Gambling Act, amended by the Act of 18 February 2024, now prohibits gambling operators from offering players gifts, meals, drinks or free or reduced-price travel. This ban aims to prevent any influence on players’ gaming behaviour and to create fairer conditions of competition between the different operators.

However, an exception is provided for class 1 casinos, which may offer benefits up to a maximum amount of €400 per player over a period of two months.

Interpretation by the Gaming Commission

To ensure uniform application of this new regulation, the Gaming Commission has published an interpretation document specifying the contours of the prohibition.

The main points to remember are as follows:

• Limitation of rewards linked to gambling: Rewards linked to gambling are authorized provided that they are an integral part of the rules of the game and that they are offered fairly to all players.
• Prohibition of discriminatory mechanisms: Advantages cannot be attributed based on the player’s behavior, the duration of play or any other individual criterion.
• Prohibition of advantages outside the game: Gifts, game credits and any other form of advantage intended to influence the player’s behavior are strictly prohibited.
• Ban on goods in kind: Operators cannot offer goods in kind outside of class 1 casinos, even if these goods must be collected in a physical class 1 casino.

Objectives of the new regulation

This new regulation has several objectives:

• Protect players: By limiting incentives to gamble, the authorities hope to reduce the risks of addiction and gambling-related problems.
• Ensure fairness: By prohibiting certain aggressive commercial practices, the Gaming Commission wishes to create a fairer gaming environment for all operators.
• Strengthen control: This new interpretation of Article 60 will make it easier for the Gaming Commission to control whether operators comply with the regulations.

The Gaming Commission also specifies that this interpretation is purely informative and aims to ensure the greatest possible transparency. It obviously does not affect the power of the Gaming Commission to assess, on a case-by-case basis, in sanction procedures, whether or not there is an infringement of Article 60.