Belgium sparks global debate by raising gambling age
Belgium has attracted worldwide attention by raising the legal gambling age from 18 to 21, according to a study. Belgium stands out positively from other EU countries Where the legal gambling age is still 18.
Are the differences in age limits for risky behavior justifiable?
Miranda Raaff, Head of iGaming Information at casino platform Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC), highlighted the striking differences in legal age limits for activities such as driving licenses, smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling and viewing adult information. According to Raaff, it is inconsistent to treat gambling as the only one while other risky behaviors are less strictly regulated.
“If Belgian lawmakers believe that 21 is the right age for gambling, shouldn’t this age limit apply to all risky activities such as drinking, smoking, driving and viewing pornography?” Raaff wondered.
“It seems arbitrary to single out gambling while other, possibly even riskier, behaviors remain less regulated. Perhaps they should apply the same logic to all these activities.”
| Countries | Belgium | Germany | Netherlands | France | UK | Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Drinking Age | 16 for beer and wine | 16 for beer and wine | 16 for beer and wine | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 18 for spirits and stronger alcoholic beverages | 18 for spirits and stronger alcoholic beverages | 18 for spirits and stronger alcoholic beverages | ||||
| Legal age to watch porn | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Legal age to smoke cigarettes | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 but will increase by one year each year with the new law | 18 | 18 |
| Legal age to drive a vehicle | 17 learner permit | 17 learner permit | 17 learner permit | 17 | Provisional driving licence when you’re 15 years and 9 months old | 18 |
| 18 full driver license | 18 full driver license | 18 full driver license | 17 full driver license | |||
| Legal age to gamble | 21 | 18 | 18 but restriction on bonus until 24 | 18 and 1 day | 18 | 18 |
| 18 (national lottery) |
Comparing legal ages worldwide
Raaff went on to discuss the comparison of legal ages for different activities between countries. “What is clear is that 18-year-olds in most countries have access to pornography. This is apparently seen as an appropriate age, despite the dangers online,” Raaff said.
“Alcohol poses enormous health risks and driving a vehicle requires even more responsibility with potentially life-threatening consequences. Yet we allow 18-year-olds and in some countries even younger people to drive.”
A holistic approach to regulating young adults
Belgium’s decision raises important questions about the perceived maturity of young adults. Raaff stressed that a broader global discussion is needed about the legal age for different risky behaviors. “If we trust 18-year-olds with driving, smoking, drinking alcohol and accessing pornography why should gambling be treated differently?
Protecting young adults means taking the same steps for all risky behaviors,” Raaff said. She added that aligning these regulatory gaps would contribute to a more realistic framework for protecting young people.