Belgian Justice Minister, Vincent Van Quickenborn has proposed a Royal Decree that would place an outright ban on many forms of gambling advertising by the end the year and a complete ban of gambling sponsorship in sports by the end of 2024.
Problem gamblers are responsible for 40% of gambling companies’ turnover
According to reports from the press in Belgium, the proposal introduced by Van Quickenborn over the weekend, will include a ban on advertising in printed media, posters/billboards in public areas, direct mail and email marketing, as well as ads on TV, radio, websites, digital channels, social media platforms, and at the cinema. The minister has also called for a ban on free demo games on any gambling website.
Speaking to local press of the ban, Van Quickenhorn said:
Belgium Could Introduce Ban on All Forms of Gambling Advertising by the End of 2022‘Gambling – all the numbers point to an explosion with all the consequences for addiction – is the new smoking. Belgium is following the international trend. Italy and Spain have implemented a complete advertising ban and the Netherlands and the UK are working on similar rules.”
However, while there is some support for the ban, critics of the proposal have stated that this could have a detrimental effect on football clubs that depend on sponsorship deals with gambling companies for much of their revenue. Critics of the ban have also questioned the fact that there will be no ban placed on the National Lottery as it will only be applicable to privately-owned gambling companies.
Belgium Could Introduce Ban on All Forms of Gambling Advertising by the End of 2022: Belgium Could Introduce Ban on All Forms of Gambling Advertising by the End of 2022The news of the proposed ban follows recent news that over 100,000 people in Belgium have a gambling disorder with a third of those having a severe addiction. In the same research, The Flemish Expertise Centre of Alcohol and Other Drugs found that this group finances about 40% of gambling companies’ turnover in an industry that is worth an estimated €2 billion per year.
London based reporter covering all aspects of the global regulated and unregulated land-based and online gambling industry - including business news, sports-betting, casinos, poker & regulation