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The Belgium Gambling Commission (BGC) has decreased the number of concessions for betting operator/business licences to 30.
Belgium's government authorised new revisions to the Royal Decree of December 2010, which establishes the licencing criteria and commercial obligations for betting providers (online or retail) to communicate with clients.
As a result, betting business F1 licences will be limited to 30 from July 31, 2022 to July 31, 2031.
The Commission will only be permitted to issue a new operator licence if an active operator's licence becomes empty owing to withdrawal or cessation.
Belgian gambling rules require all betting establishments to keep an F1 licence including their domestic business registry and management information.
Licensed betting operators must get additional F2 licences depending on the betting vertical in which they operate (retail, betting shop, newsagents, or horseracing).
The BGC permits holders of an F1 licence to apply for an additional F1+ licence, which allows them to operate online sportsbooks.
The Belgian government has revised the market safeguards for online gambling in 2022, with the BGC instructed to impose a €200 weekly deposit restriction on operators, effective October 20.
In August, licenced incumbents were warned of additional changes as the government proposed to the European Commission new safer gaming criteria and advertising limitations.
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborn, who oversees the market's policy development, has suggested a self-drafted Royal Decree that would enforce a near-complete prohibition on all types of gambling promotion by the end of 2023.
Van Quickenborn has claimed that his mandate is supported by all seven parties that comprise Belgium's coalition government.
By fLEXI tEAM