Weekly magazine Humo investigates Bouchez’s connections with gambling companies

Research conducted by Humo shows that a number of MPs in the federal parliament had expressed concern about the alleged ties of the current chairman of the MR, Jean-Louis Bouchez, with the gambling industry.

Since 2022, the gambling industry has been subject to stricter regulations and since July 1, 2023, most forms of advertising have even been banned. Bouchez expressed concern about this, especially regarding the sports sector which is often sponsored by gambling companies. Moreover, due to the lack of visibility of legal operators, players would find it easier to find their way to the illegal market.

It was also previously announced that the racing team in which George-Louis Bouchez, who is a rally driver in his spare time, is also sponsored by Ladbrokes.

Exemptions for amateur sports clubs

According to the investigation, the French-speaking liberal is said to have influenced the party’s policy to significantly favor gambling lobbies by obtaining a series of exemptions from the advertising ban regarding amateur sports clubs. Bouchez is himself chairman of the Royal Francs Borains football club, which is active in 1B.

“Nothing new”

Gilles Vanden Burre of the green party Ecolo said in an interview with “The Brussels Times” that it is “nothing new” that Bouchez advocates lobbying gambling companies.

Humo’s research reached the French-speaking press via the online platform of the magazine Moustique.

However, according to Vanden Burre, this topic has been under discussion in the federal parliament for years and he added that the Moustique story was only a translation of Humo’s most important work that was published in the morning and removed in the afternoon.

“A matter of governance”

Vanden Burre also called it “a matter of governance”. He emphasized that the power exercised by lobby groups represents “a major concern for the political decision-making process in a democracy.”

Humo collected testimonies from political figures during its investigation and according to them, Bouchez has had an alleged individual influence on MR’s opposition to the regulation of the gambling sector.

Growing concerns about the social consequences of gambling addiction and gambling debt due to the significant increase in popularity of online gambling in our country prompted lawmakers to regulate the sector.

Former Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) took action in the spring of 2022 through a royal decree that would mean a ban on advertising.

“Bouchez made it first page news”

MR led the fight against the bill in question.

Van Quickenborne stated that he had the right to take that measure himself through the royal decree and that Bouchez made it front page news.

MR believes that these measures can be counterproductive and ultimately mean a loss of control over the market. MR would prefer that the gambling industry be able to regulate itself.

Bouchez’s influence

Vooruit party leader Melissa Depraetere said that during a meeting, MR MPs admitted that they had nothing to say against their arguments, but that they had to call Bouchez again and again to ask his permission.

According to her, the MR MPs returned “with their tails between their legs” and said that Bouchez said “no”.

Former MR MP Damien Thiéry is currently lobbying for BAGO (Belgian Association of Gaming Operators), which represents six of the largest gambling companies in our country that represent 70% of the market: Group Ardent, Betfirst, Kindred, Napoleon, Golden Palace and Starcasino.

Gaming1

Gaming1 previously also mentioned that the strict legislation can have a negative effect and that the stricter rules push players to the dangerous illegal black market.

The VAD (Flemish Expertise Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs) also indicated at the beginning of this year that they want to change the current minimum age for gambling from 18 to 21 years, which will continue to tighten the rules, but Gaming1 refers to recent Nepa surveys which show that every year more and more gamblers are turning to the black market. Which ultimately leads to a weakening of player protection.