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How Malta undermines Belgium’s gambling rules

Bitcasino.io is among the casinos considered illegal in Belgium, despite this, Belgian players can still access this casino and play without any problems.

Bitcasino.io is officially banned in Belgium. Yet, Belgian players can access the casino, place bets, and cash out without difficulty. How is that possible? The route runs through Malta, where suppliers with an official gambling license still provide services to websites that are not permitted elsewhere.   

This raises questions about the credibility of the Maltese Gaming Authority (MGA). And it shows how the European gambling market is struggling with grey areas, in which casinos operate beyond the reach of national regulators.   

Suppliers work with illegal platforms via legal routes

Bitcasino.io does not have a license from the Belgian Gaming Commission. Yet, it runs games from well-known suppliers, payment services, and platform technologies that are licensed by Malta. This means: the casino runs on European technology, but outside European rules.s

Players in Belgium get in easily. A simple VPN or even without workarounds. No itsme, no limits, no supervision. And yet, established parties from Malta cooperate. In doing so, they actively undermine the national policies of other EU countries.

European cooperation falls short

There is no uniform approach in the EU. Countries like the Netherlands and Belgium block illegal providers, but other member states look away or even play a role in facilitating them.  

And as long as Brussels does not take a hard line, Malta remains a gateway. Suppliers working from Malta claim to adhere to the law.

“We only supply technology.”

But they know their services are being used on illegal sites. And therein lies the core of the problem.   

In Belgium, too, it turns out that players continue to find their way to banned casinos, as we previously described regarding European gambling regulations. As long as this fragmentation persists, national bans have little effect.

Gambling addicts out of sight, profits without oversight

Without a license, providers like Bitcasino.io are not bound by any duty of care. Players who accumulate losses are not contacted.

Nobody checks limits. No authority sees when things go wrong.

For providers, this is attractive. No fines, no supervision, just profit. And thanks to Malta, they can present themselves as ‘legitimate’. For gambling addicts, this means a free fall without a safety net. They fall off the radar of support services.

This pattern is not unique. Several sites operate in the same way. Just as in other countries where license holders continue to supply illegal gambling sites via workarounds.

Time for action, not excuses

It is naive to think that this method of operation is harmless. It is about money, power, and addiction. Suppliers, platforms, and licensors share that responsibility.s

Regulators in Belgium, the Netherlands, and other countries have long been advocating for a uniform EU policy. One license, clear guidelines, and harsh sanctions for those who feed illegal sites. But this is slow to get started, while the damage continues daily.   

As long as one can simply access providers like Bitcasino.io in Belgium via Malta’s legal backdoor, the European gambling policy is a paper tiger.

Julien: Passionate about the world of gambling, Julien is a recognized expert in online casinos and sports betting. For several years, he has been analyzing industry trends, decoding operator strategies, and guiding players in their pursuit of responsible entertainment and potential winnings. With a clear and precise writing style, he is committed to delivering reliable, up-to-date, and accessible content. His goal: to provide readers with high-quality information that is both educational and engaging, offering deeper insight into a constantly evolving industry.
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