Belgium takes major step in safe gambling during BAGO conference
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4 Nov 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes From 18 to 24 November, Europe will be all about one thing: safe and responsible gambling. During Safer Gambling Week, responsible gaming and player protection will be central. And that is sorely needed in a world where gambling is becoming increasingly accessible.
In Belgium, the BAGO conference this year will feature inspiring speakers and engaging panels that all focus on one thing: improving safety for everyone who takes a gamble. And they want to expand that safety even further with the help of new technologies.
The BAGO conference is the place where experts, policymakers and operators share their knowledge about responsible gambling. They look at how technology can help prevent gambling addiction and better protect players.
This is what you can expect at the BAGO conference
The BAGO conference programme is full of interesting speakers and panels. Here is a sneak preview of what to expect:
- Introduction and one-year BAGO Duty of Care Covenant – Tom De Clercq, the president of BAGO, kicks off with a look back at the past year and the importance of the duty of care for players.
- Channelisation in Belgium: The risk of the black market – Sam Richardson of NEPA highlights how the black market for gambling practices in Belgium endangers players and discusses the risks involved.
- Player protection: The role of operators – Professor Xavier Noël of the ULB talks about how gambling companies can contribute to a safe gaming environment and how they should take responsibility for this.
- Enhanced player protection: Innovative monitoring solutions for safe gambling in Belgium and beyond – Paul Murphy of Mindway shows how smart technologies can help to identify and prevent problematic gambling behaviour in time.
- Together and everywhere: Working towards better protection – Magali Clavie, chair of the Belgian Gaming Commission, shares her vision on the collaboration between different parties to improve player protection and combat abuse. Panel discussion on player protection and youth gambling
- A panel discussion on how young people are affected by the appeal of gambling, with Ward D’Hulst (editor-in-chief of production company PIT, which produced the VTM documentary ‘Ze zeg dat’) and Vasiliki Panousi (Manager EU Affairs at EGBA, with extensive knowledge of gambling and young people).
More speakers for this panel will be announced, but it already promises to be an in-depth discussion with many new insights.
- How private operators protect players and meet their duty of care – Jean-Christophe Choffray of Gaming1 explains how gambling companies are actively working on player protection and how they are taking responsibility for making gambling safer.
- Closing remarks – BAGO Vice President Emmanuel Mewissen concludes the day with a look back at the highlights and looks ahead to the future of responsible gambling.
During this conference, which is accessible in French, Dutch and English, all participants come together to share ideas and take new steps in player protection. Want to know more about the conference and the full programme? Then visit www.bago.be