Belgium To Issue New Regulations For Online Casino Gaming.

Belgian Gambling Commission reported more then 30,000 of Belgium's citizens play on Internet casinos on an average every month. The report estimates more then 150,000 active gamblers spent estimated 27 million Euros in 2003 with that figures grown substancially to almost 1 billion Euros in 2005! A large portion of online gambling is still unregulated as is not controlled by the state authorities, which gives scope to under age gambling warns the report.

Following the lead of fellow European countries Italy and the Netherlands, Belgium is about to issue new regulations for online casino gambling this year. The debate on the legislation, which has lasted almost three years, has finally produced legislation that applies not only to online casinos and Internet gambling sites but to land-based gambling venues as well. Over 100,000 Belgian citizens participate in online casino gaming each year.

According to insiders, Belgium's Minister of Justice will soon be presented with a draft report created by the Commission on Internet Gambling. Among the Commission's findings is that approximately one billion euro each year is spent at online casino, sports betting and gambling sites by Belgians. While online casino gambling and sports betting is officially illegal in the country, a staggering number of offshore online casino firms specifically cater toward Belgian casino players.

However, in an approach that echoes the United Kingdom's stance on online casino gaming, Belgium Gambling Commission has recommended licensing 9 Belgian casinos. The Commission has also recommended that casino payouts, the amounts of wagers, the age of casino players, and the average loss threshold per hour should be carefully monitored by Belgian's government. Based on these recommendations, any impending Belgian legislation can only be positive for the entire online casino industry and its fans.

Source: USA Online Casino


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