Gambling activities such as those covered by the Act of 7 May 1999 on gambling.

Draft Law amending Articles 3, 10, 11, 15/1 to 15/4, 39, 43/8, 54, 58, 61 and 62 of the Act of 7 May 1999 on gambling, betting, gambling establishments and the protection of gamblers

This draft notably includes the following amendments:

- prohibition on the operation of card or board games covered by Article 3.3 of the act, via devices not authorised by the Gaming Commission;

- amendment of Article 3bis such that the eID age control will also be applied to National Lottery betting gambling and lottery machines;

- modification of the composition of the Gaming Commission to promote a more even distribution of men and women within the Gaming Commission;

- amendment of the conditions for nomination of current or alternate members of the Gaming Commission or the chairperson;

- an increase in the power of sanction by giving the Gaming Commission to sanction, as was previously the case.

- an increase in the maximum number of gambling devices that may be operated by public houses;

- amendments to Article 43/4 of the act, concerning class IV gambling establishments (firstly the conclusion of an agreement between the commune in which the establishment is located and the operator, and secondly the data associated with the operation of automatic games offering bets on activities similar to those offered by a betting shop in a permanent establishment on Belgian territory.)

- addition of two additional conditions to be met by applicants for a class F1 and F2 licence (agreement between the commune and the establishment and a prohibition on establishing close to schools, etc.)

- power given to the King to set different criteria for each class of licence and according to whether the game is offered in the real world or online;

- a prohibition on access to virtual games of chance in betting shops by persons under 21 years of age.

- the King is granted general competence to determine the procedures relating to advertising for gambling.

- extension of the scope of application of the Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS), to include all of the gambling establishments established in class IV.