Rob Beenders, Belgian Federal Minister for Consumer Protection and Equal Opportunities, recently relaunched a project aimed at restricting access to gambling, particularly at night.
The minister wants to tighten the rules
Since taking office in the federal government, Rob Beenders has already made his mark in several areas, but one of his main concerns remains the protection of gamblers from the risks of addiction and financial loss.
This desire has resulted in a proposal to limit access to gambling platforms and venues during certain hours, particularly at night. The idea is to reduce players’ continuous exposure to stimuli that may increase compulsive behaviour. While Belgium already has a strict framework for controlling access to gambling establishments and betting, notably through systems such as EPIS (Excluded Persons Information System) and the prohibition of access for minors, this measure is part of a series of reforms aimed at protection.
‘When social control disappears, we see that people gamble more. We need to break the 24/7 cycle.’
What changes will this mean for players?
The project is still under discussion, but it is based on an observation shared by many experts: at certain times, particularly late at night, vulnerable players are more prone to impulsive decisions and less able to control their spending. Studies and parliamentary reports submitted last year point to a political will to adapt existing legislation to better manage these risks.
Among the measures being considered are:
- Limiting access to gaming machines or platforms between midnight and 6 a.m., particularly for digital games;
- Strengthening identity checks before any gaming session, a measure already introduced recently for online casinos from May 2025.
Tensions within the majority
However, this approach is not unanimously supported. Within the coalition, the Reformist Movement (MR) has expressed its reluctance to see these rules tightened too broadly.
‘Everyone knows that the MR has other intentions when it comes to gambling. They are not very favourable to a tightening,’ says Beenders. ‘But the government agreement is clear: Minister Clarinval must present proposals to the government.’
This debate comes at a time when Belgium has already adopted some of the strictest laws in Europe on gambling and related advertising.
What now?
If the current discussions are successful, Belgium could become one of the European countries to introduce time restrictions on access to gambling, in addition to the existing rules to protect players.
Beenders says these changes are motivated by tangible evidence of social harm caused by excessive gambling, particularly when it is accessible without time limits. He thus poses a central question: is the role of the state to guide or to prohibit when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable?