Belgian group calls for gambling age to be raised to 21

VAD works with the Flemish government and acts as an umbrella group for more than 70 drug addiction groups. In a memorandum released this week, the organization calls for raising the minimum age for gambling.

The document details VAD’s nine priorities for policy on gambling, as well as alcohol, psychotropic substances, video games and illegal drugs.

The need for “consistent laws”

Regarding both gambling and alcohol, the memorandum calls for three “cost-effective legislative measures” to be considered to end access to both. It is as follows: It’s a price increase. No advertising allowed. and limit availability.

Availability restrictions include raising the minimum age for gambling to 21 years and for purchasing alcohol to 18 years, VAD said.

Currently, Belgians cannot gamble on casinos or slot machines until they are 21 years old, either online or in retail stores. However, the minimum age to place bets online or at a retail store is 18 years.

VAD said restricting access to gambling and alcohol could also help protect vulnerable people.

Developments in the care of Belgian gamblers

This is the latest move to address the Belgian gambling market. Last November, the Belgian Association of Game Operators (BAGO) created a voluntary duty of care.

BAGO represents 70% of the Belgian gambling sector and six of the most popular operators on the market. These are Ardent Group, Betfirst, Golden Palace, Kindred, Napoléon Sports & Casino, and Starcasino.

This duty of care committed operators to taking steps to monitor problem gambling within their customer base. These include uniform detection systems, player communication and staff training.

The duty of care was created in response to BAGO saying it was being “maligned” by Belgium’s political sector. BAGO vice president Emmanuel Mevissen said in an interview with Leko that attempts were being made to “discredit” the Belgian gambling market.