Gambling advertisements again at Genk schools: N-VA wants to get rid of them immediately

In Genk, gambling advertisements are again hanging near schools, and that is causing quite a stir. This time it concerns advertisements for the game Lady Fortuna from the National Lottery, in which young people are encouraged to participate in a gambling game with a prize pool of 500,000 euros. You mainly see the posters on billboards and in bus shelters around the Atlas College, which thousands of students pass by every day. And that is exactly what the opposition party N-VA is now rebelling against. They want these advertisements removed as soon as possible.

Young people easily influenced

This is not the first time that gambling advertisements have caused problems in Genk. Last year, there was also a poster near the Collegelaan, near a busy secondary school. After a complaint from N-VA, it was removed. Since the summer of last year, gambling advertisements have actually been banned in public places in Belgium, but the National Lottery has been granted an exception. And N-VA is not happy about that.

Zuhal Demir of N-VA is crystal clear to VRT. 

“We do not want any gambling advertising near schools. Young people are easily influenced, and gambling is a serious problem here in Genk. There are enough residents who struggle with a gambling addiction, and this type of advertising does not help.”

Zuhal Demir, N-VA

She wants the contract with advertising company JCDecaux to be adjusted, so that in the future, no more gambling advertising will appear near schools.

Pupils do not understand it

The pupils themselves do not understand it either. Yule (17) and Jeff (15) are standing in front of a bus shelter with a large poster of the National Lottery. “It is really strange to see something like this here,” says Yule. “At school we learn that gambling is bad, and then you see a poster here that says you can win half a million,” Jeff adds. “This can make young people think that it is very easy to get rich quickly.” Both agree that this advertising is in no way a good idea near a school.

Director Christel Schepers of the Atlascollege shares these concerns. 

“Thousands of students pass by here every day, and let’s be honest: teenagers are easily influenced. This is not the place to put up gambling advertisements. Parents, teachers, nobody wants this.” 

The school will certainly raise the issue with the city council.

City council intervenes

Mayor Wim Dries (CD&V) has already announced that he is taking action. He agrees with the concerns of the N-VA and believes that this advertising does not belong near schools, even though the National Lottery campaign is legally permitted. “We are going to talk to JCDecaux again to have these advertisements removed here too,” says Dries. He believes that good agreements can be made with the advertising operator. 

“We have previously sat down with them, and they neatly removed the gambling advertisement. But I now want clarity about how this could happen again.”

Wim Dries

JCDecaux has announced that they are open to consultation with the city council. Spokesperson Veerle Colin: “The campaign is completely legal, but if this is a sensitive issue, we are certainly prepared to work together to find a solution.”