Belgium to Implement Player ID System in Gaming Machine Venues

Summary:

• Belgian customers will be required to use IDs when playing at gaming machine venues
• The measure is aimed at fighting gambling addiction
• A similar measure is currently being implemented in Denmark

Belgium is stepping up its campaign against gambling addiction with the implementation of mandatory ID checks in gaming machine venues across the country.

The measure was approved on September 29 by the Federal Council of Ministers and forms part of wide-ranging gambling reforms spearheaded by Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne.

Player IDs Aimed at Combating Gambling Addiction

The new rules will see all retail, hospitality, and leisure venues across Belgium, especially in the main regions of Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia, conduct ID verification checks on individuals before they are allowed to play gambling machines.

The Council of Ministers decided to expedite the approval process for the new measure in a bid to address existing loopholes in the country’s gambling laws. Commenting on the latest development, Minister Van Quickenborne said the new player ID requirement is an important step in curbing gambling addiction which has been causing significant financial difficulties to vulnerable people.

Neighboring Denmark is already implementing a similar measure requiring all retail betting venues throughout the country to use a player ID system.

The Danish government officially began implementing the new system on October 1 and from that date, all players registered on Denmark’s ROFUS self-exclusion scheme will also not be allowed to enter retail venues. The measure, which gained cross-party support, is aimed at enhancing player protection and reducing the risks of money laundering and match-fixing in the country.

The implementation of mandatory ID verification in Belgium follows the enforcement of a Royal Decree under which licensed Belgian operators are prohibited from running all forms of gambling advertising across all media platforms.

The ban, which took effect on July 1, covers ads shown on TV, radio, cinema, print media, as well as social media and digital channels, with the promotion of gambling products also not allowed in public areas. Sports sponsorships will also be banned starting July 2025.

Additionally, Belgium’s gambling regulator, the Kansspel Commissie (KSC), has adopted a new preventative message tagline, “gambling is addictive”.

KSC to Provide Technical Guidelines on Player ID Checks

The specific details of the new player ID checks along with the timeline of the implementation will be set out in a technical guidance that will be provided by the KSC.

In other developments, the local governments of Brussels and Genk have announced they will not be issuing new gambling licenses until the Gambling Law amendments are finalized.