Ladbrokes betting office in the city of halle in belgium

Halle bans new gambling establishments

The City of Halle, in Belgium, takes a radical decision by banning new gambling establishments, but opts for continuity for existing operators.

Restriction of new establishments

The Halle municipal council recently decided to stop granting new licenses to betting houses and casinos on its territory. The measure follows the trend of several other Belgian cities, such as Genk, Maasmechelen and Leuven, which have already implemented similar bans.

Current operators remain in place

Unlike other municipalities, Halle has chosen a nuanced approach. Existing operators, such as Ladbrokes and Napoleon Games, are allowed to continue operations. In fact, their licenses will be renewed despite their proximity to a school. Mayor Marc Snoeck (Vooruit) explains: “We believe that a betting shop on Basiliekstraat and a casino on Bergensesteenweg are sufficient for our city.”

Justified exemption

Although this decision may seem controversial due to the proximity of the establishments to a school, the municipal council justified its choice by highlighting the absence of complaints over the years. Despite the disagreement of the opposition (N-VA, Vlaams Belang, Halle 2019), the licenses were renewed. Marc Snoeck states: “During all these years of activity of these two establishments in Halle, there have never been any complaints, neither from neighbors, nor from schools, nor from the police. This is why we have renewed their licenses. But we will now refuse new requests.”

A controversial approach in the European landscape

The municipal council, by extending the existing licenses, affirms that these establishments have not caused any notable problems. However, this approach raises concerns, as it could go against the general trend in Belgium to further restrict the gaming industry for social protection reasons.

This measure comes in a broader context where several European cities are seeking to further regulate or restrict gambling operations within their territory for a variety of reasons, ranging from protecting players to managing the often controversial nature of this industry.

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Caroline specializes in the casino industry, where she combines a deep knowledge of the gaming sector in France with a passion for digital innovations. She explores the changes that are revolutionizing this industry, from the integration of artificial intelligence in the user experience and data analysis to blockchain technologies that strengthen the security and transparency of transactions. Curious and committed, she is particularly interested in responsible gaming solutions and new regulations, addressing topics as varied as player protection, risky behavior management, and the importance of ethical practices.

Through her in-depth and accessible articles, Caroline allows readers to better understand the trends, innovations and challenges of a constantly changing industry. She takes care to demystify new technologies and to make the link between technical advances and their concrete implications for players and operators. Her goal? To offer an informed and balanced vision of a sector in full transition, between tradition and modernity, while contributing to a dialogue around more responsible and secure gaming.

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