The Belgian government is expanding its self-exclusion program to include retail betting.
The Belgian Gaming Commission has declared that the country’s self-exclusion program, the Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS), will now encompass retail wagering.
EPIS pinpoints individuals who wish to voluntarily withdraw from gambling and bars them from engaging in gambling activities for a specified duration. Previously, the system was employed in brick-and-mortar casinos and slot machine establishments, as well as online betting and online gaming.
The Belgian Gaming Commission’s rules concerning self-exclusion were previously challenged by the Belgian Council of State (Belgium’s highest judicial body). The regulatory body had asserted that operators must provide a temporary self-exclusion option and refrain from promotional activities during this period, which must extend for at least six months. The court overturned this regulation, asserting that “the Gaming Commission lacks the authority to enforce this rule.”
Belgium’s regulatory measures are among the most stringent in Europe, and the nation declared a complete prohibition on all forms of gambling advertising in May. The local operator trade association Bago criticized the measure, arguing that its primary effect will be to make it more challenging for consumers to differentiate between legal and illicit products.
In this scenario, EPIS is a crucial instrument for legal professionals battling addiction.
“Currently, an increasing number of legal professionals are employing algorithms and artificial intelligence to swiftly detect emerging gambling problem behaviors and provide solutions to players, including recommending they join the EPIS list,” stated Tom De Cleck, President of Bago.
“This is the path forward if we aim to effectively combat gambling addiction.”
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