Views of the political parties on Gambling in Belgium

Gambling is gaining immense popularity in Belgium, with 6 out of 10 young people between the ages of 18 and 30 gambling at least once a month. With the elections approaching, let’s delve into how different political parties stand on gambling.

First of all, the opponents of the current situation:

Open VLD: Stricter rules against “unhinged gambling industry”

• Stricter rules against the “unleashed gambling industry”
• Banning bonuses and expanding EPIS checks
• Criticized for conflict of interest regarding the National Lottery

The Open VLD is satisfied with the steps that Minister Van Quickenborne has taken to limit the gambling industry, such as the ban on gambling advertising during TV broadcasts. Yet they believe more can be done. For example, they argue for stricter rules, such as a ban on bonuses and an expansion of EPIS control. They also came under fire because there was a conflict of interest at CD&V and Open VLD because the National Lottery remained out of reach. Minister Van Quickenborne also kept talking about the gambling mafia, clearly indicating his party’s position.

CD&V: “We must curb aggressive gambling advertisements and sponsorship”

• Curbing aggressive gambling ads and sponsorships
• Empowering the Gaming Commission to protect players
• Banning gambling from the world of young people

We can say that the CD&V is against gambling. Together with Open VLD they voted for the advertising ban. According to the investigative editors of ‘VTM News’ and ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’, this ban came at the request of the National Lottery, which at that time was under the supervision of State Secretary Mahdi.

CD&V wants to give the Gaming Commission more resources to restrict the gambling industry and protect players. Aggressive gambling advertisements and sponsorship must go. They certainly want to ban gambling from the lives of young people, for example by making gambling on youth competitions impossible and raising the age for online gambling to 21 years.

Groen: Gambling is like drugs or alcohol, stricter rules are needed

• Equating gambling addiction to drug and alcohol addiction
• Initiating the Hecke Law for a gambling advertising ban
• Implementing stricter rules to protect players

Groen compares the impact of gambling addiction with that of drug and alcohol addiction. They are the main driving force behind the Hecke Law, which introduced the advertising ban for gambling companies. They believe that even stricter rules are needed to protect players. Among other things, they want to tackle the proliferation of gambling machines, ban bonuses and expand EPIS control. They also want to oblige the use of the eID for identity and age verification, and ban multiple gambling licenses on one website.

An awareness campaign breaks the taboo on gambling addiction and encourages players to ask for help more quickly. Groen wants to strengthen the provision of assistance and invest in prevention and early detection. They want European measures that restrict advertising for online gambling and combat the illegal gambling circuit.

Vooruit: “We want a general ban on online gambling and gambling websites.”

• Seeking a total ban on online gambling and gambling websites
• Aiming for a significant reduction in both offline and online gambling
• Proposing to abolish the Gaming Commission due to gambling lobby influence
• Advocating for a ban on live betting due to the high addiction risk

Vooruit strives for a significant reduction in both offline and online gambling. The party even aims to abolish the Gaming Commission, which they believe is too much under the influence of the gambling lobby, and wants to replace it with an advisory committee. In addition, Vooruit advocates a ban on live betting due to the high risk of addiction.

The parties that advocate player protection and regulated gambling

N-VA: Legal and regulated gambling, with a focus on vulnerable players

• Emphasizing legal and regulated gambling
• Focusing on protecting vulnerable players
• Implementing strict controls on excessive gambling behavior
• Prioritizing online gambling and enforcing age restrictions

The N-VA emphasizes the importance of a legal and regulated gambling offering, but with special attention to the protection of vulnerable players, such as minors. They advocate strict controls on excessive gambling behavior and effective preventive measures to prevent gambling addiction. They also want to pay more attention to online gambling and the enforcement of existing age restrictions.

Vlaams Belang: The government must set a good example. That is why the role of the National Lottery must be reconsidered.

• Questioning the National Lottery’s role
• Advocating for a clear code of conduct for casinos and sports betting

Vlaams Belang takes a conservative approach to ethical issues, with the intention to maintain existing legislation on issues such as abortion, euthanasia and gay rights, without abolishing or relaxing it.

Vlaams Belang did question the methodology used to implement the advertising ban. They demanded an investigation into possible corruption surrounding the ban on gambling advertising. They claim that the National Lottery would have offered additional payments to the state in exchange for this ban, which would indicate corruption. This was later confirmed by research by ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ and ‘VTM Nieuws’.

PVDA: “A policy must be based on knowledge of scientists and actors in the field.”

• Implementing an interfederal action plan against addictions
• Advocating for a gambling advertising ban
• Emphasizing prevention and scientific knowledge

The PVDA also takes a stand against gambling and earlier this year even took to the streets in a sub-district of Hasselt, where a betting office on Sint-Hubertusplein in Runkst caused unrest among residents. Kim de Witte of the PVDA indicated that, through a wheel of fortune, the residents would not appreciate the arrival of the betting office.

A policy must be based on knowledge of scientists and actors in the field. That is currently not the case enough, according to PVDA. Just as tobacco advertising was gradually banned, so too was an advertising ban on gambling. Gambling impoverishes and increases the risk of welfare and health problems. Prevention is better than cure. They focus more on prevention across the board.