Illegal gambling endangers Belgian players: BAGO calls for action

The Belgian Gaming Commission (GC) is facing a critical situation, according to the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO). In an article published in Le Soir, the president of the GC, Magali Clavie, already highlighted the organization’s severe lack of staff and resources.

An alarming observation shared by BAGO, which emphasizes that this undercapacity of the GC seriously compromises its mission of regulating and controlling a rapidly expanding gaming sector.

A growing black market

A recent study carried out by Nepa, at the request of BAGO, reveals that illegal operators now control a fifth of the Belgian market. This situation exposes players to considerable risks, particularly in the absence of player protection guarantees. For BAGO, it is imperative to channel players towards a legal, safe and sustainable gaming environment.

The association also denounces the harmful consequences of the activity of illegal operators on society, who take advantage of a regulatory vacuum to aggressively target Belgian players.

A call to action

Faced with this alarming observation, BAGO makes three key recommendations:

• Strengthen the Gaming Commission: Equipped with sufficient human and financial resources, the GC should have the necessary autonomy to fully exercise its regulatory and control missions. BAGO advocates in particular for optimal use of financial resources from operators.
• Optimize the channeling rate: The implementation of evidence-based policies that would direct players towards legal operators.
• Strengthen player protection: An intensification of the fight against illegal operators is essential to guarantee a safer gaming environment.

For BAGO, it is urgent to take concrete measures to strengthen the GC and combat the black market in online gambling.

The current situation of the gambling market is worrying. The undercapacity of the Gambling Commission, combined with the growth of the black market, is jeopardizing player protection. BAGO calls on the relevant authorities to take decisive action to address this situation.