Belgium regulator bans foreign live dealers

Belgium’s Gaming Commission has set out plans to enforce a ban on remote live dealer casino suppliers from its online market with the requirements set to come into effect within weeks.

In a change to the country’s licensing framework, the regulator has demanded that all live dealer tables are based in Belgium, and operators currently using international tables will either have to change suppliers or stop offering the product altogether.

The Commission made the announcement late last week and has called on all licensed operators offering live dealer games to declare their set-up by this Friday, with any necessary changes to be set out within the following two weeks.

“Operators who cannot ensure operations in Belgium will not be able to continue their activity,” a note issued by the regulator stated.

However, an interim period during which selected operators could be allowed to continue to use existing live dealer platforms is to be decided upon at the regulator’s next committee meeting in early February.

The regulator had previously revealed its concern regarding international live dealers and its inability to guarantee the protection of consumers playing on such tables.

Belgium maintains tight control over its online gaming market and currently only allows operators with a land-based presence in the country to offer products online.

In October last year the country announced it was to expand its online casino market by increasing the number of casino licences from nine to 11.

Current online casino operators in the country include Unibet, Ladbrokes and bwin.party as well as domestic firms such as Napoleon Gaming – last week the centre of takeover speculation – and Betsson-owned Kroon.