The online gaming operators located in Belgium have been served an information notice that the local gaming regulatory authorities intend to enforce a law that requires all live-dealer casinos to be located within the country’s boundaries.
A note has been released by the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) on January 7th to inform players that it has made a decision on banning all live-dealer casinos, which broadcast their signals from abroad, by implementing an already existing edict.
Currently, BGC is one of the most active European regulators, which add names to its online gambling blacklist on a regular basis. The Commission also recaptures funds of illegal operators and even puts their executives under arrest.
The development background of the European online gambling law is quite interesting, as it passed through several stages. Several EU Member nations have been focused on the implementation of a specific legislation of online gambling.
These members worked in collaboration with the ones which put their efforts into law enforcements targeted at banning overseas operators from performing in some countries in an attempt to defend local monopoly interests.
The operators providing online live-dealer options in Belgium received instructions to report such live gaming operations. The deadline, which was set by the BGC, is January 16th. The Commission will audit and evaluate the reported operations at its committee meeting scheduled for February and then send notice to the providers to inform them which ones will be permitted to keep their options.
The online live-dealer gaming operators, which are not able to prove their native origin, will be provided with the opportunity to choose between shifting to a live dealer supplier based in Belgium and putting an end to obtaining any more live dealer wagers from Belgian gambling players.
BGC’s not also includes several other points that are related to making a blacklist of operators, who are probably operating illegally in the country and provide their services without having a license for such operations. The deadline for completing the list is set for February 4th, 2015.
After this date, legal sanctions will be taken by the Commission against such gambling operators. BGC also urges the operators, which licenses are in order, to report their activity as soon as possible. If an operator has any doubts related to the legitimacy of a new game provided by it, it will be given the opportunity to present the game for inspection, which is to be finalised within two weeks of receiving all the necessary materials and information for the audit.
As cited by a reputable media, the Commission also explained that it plans to more “clearly define the procedure for new games”.
