Responsible Gambling
Introduction
The Gambling Commission is a Belgian government body. It has a key role in the gambling goings-on and is also competent for the protection of the gamblers and thus also for everything that has to do with gambling addiction. This contribution to the SID will limit itself to the concern for the excessive offer of unsafe and unfair gambling sites to which under-aged people are also bluntly confronted.
Everybody knows that a lot of gambling sites, just as erotic sites, are in the hands of criminal organisations. They accumulate their earnings from tax havens. For them only one thing counts : to earn as much money as possible in a minimum of time. With bright colours, the sound of monies falling, dollar- and euro signs and staggering prizes, they drag gamblers along with them to a world of dreams. Nobody however controls the honesty of their games. It is obvious that the payback rates of the “teasers” – the free games they offer – is much higher than that of the paying games. This is pure deception. Moreover, nobody knows what happens with the personal and identification data of the clients and the information of their payment cards, and even less if an age control of the participants is performed. Also, no information on gambling addiction is to be found on these sites.
Online gambling is an international reality which must be dealt with at that same level. The different national authorities must work with the European Union on this issue and develop a common policy. The sector also will have to take up its responsibilities. This is the only way guarantees can be ensured for a safe and acceptable gambling offer.
A socially responsible online gambling offer is what WE make of it. Online gambling as a pleasant recreation is what YOU make of it.
David Matthys
The Gaming Commission
Kantersteen 47
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: 02/504.00.49.
E-mail: david.matthys@just.fgov.be
www.gamingcommission.fgov.be
Complete text
The Belgian Gambling Commission was set up by the Act of 7 May 1999 on games of chance. It takes decisions on the licences’ applications for casinos and gambling halls. When during controls infringements of the law are established, it can withdraw the licence. Beside this, it gives advises on games of chance to anybody who asks for it. The Commission is also competent for the protection of the gamblers. Also our contribution to the SID will limit itself to a number of considerations on safe online gambling.
A coherent and efficient protection policy is only possible through a complete canalisation of the whole gambling offer. Everything which falls under the general term “game of chance”, must be regularized in the same way.
In Belgium, games of chance are prohibited but this prohibition is softened by some exceptions. Casinos, gambling halls and games of chance offered in bars and pubs are authorised within certain limits and provided a licence has preliminary been granted by the Commission. This approach is clear but outdated. The recent online gambling “boost” is a good example hereof. Online gambling is illegal in Belgium. Even though judicial actions have already been undertaken by different services, it seems that there has been no follow up up to now. The law is strict, its implementation a lot less. In every respect, it is a fact that, even if the majority of the servers are based in tax havens, the participation to the game, the stake and the advertising for the game, all occur in Belgium. Also the addiction problems arise in the land of residence.
The question is: will an adapted national legislation provide sufficient relief. Online gambling is an international issue which must be addressed at this level. A transparent international regulation is an essential condition for an efficient protection of the gamblers. In December 2007, the Gambling Commission has approved a note concerning online gambling. This note considers this issue from an objective as well as legal point of view. Proposals are given to handle this problem at a penal and international level.
Currently, poker is undoubtedly the most popular game of chance. Just as in the rest of the world, the number of poker sites increases rapidly also in Belgium. Everybody agrees on the X-factor of the game (its special attribute), but the attention is never drawn on the possible danger that is hidden behind. Beside the fact that one can get lost in the game, this game often opens the door to other games of chance. We are talking here about a kind of “snow bowl effect”. Also the popularity of videogames should not be underestimated and should also be regarded as a possible step towards online gambling.
Some sites also offer free games. Consequently, switching over to a paying site is made easier and consequently more rapid. Free games often have higher payback rates than paying ones whereby the gambler is misled. Moreover there is no control on what happens with the personal and identification data of the clients and the information of their payment cards.
In Belgium, games of chance are prohibited for under 18 year olds. Yet, studies by the CRIOC (the Belgian Information and Research Centre of Consumers’ Organisations) and the VAD (Association for Alcohol and other Drug Problems) show that already 40 % of school aged youngsters between the age of 12 and 18, had already participated in games of chance. These results date from 2005 and 2006 and obviously, do not reflect online gambling alone. In the light of the increasing popularity of videogames and poker, as well as of the rapid development and accessibility of the Internet, we can presume that the same kind of survey today could reveal even more alarming results. In order to avoid misunderstandings, the Commission will carry out a survey on online gambling in the next few months.
The authority and the European Union must at least provide for a safe gambling framework, where the gambler can participate in the game with confidence. The sector also will have to take up its responsibilities. This is the only way for it to gain credibility. A possibility would be to grant sites a quality label when they fulfil specific conditions, use approved software’s and take initiatives to protect the gamblers. Another possibility would be to allow the gambler to determine a maximum gambling budget for himself or to ask for an international prohibition to gamble. When participating in online gambling, pop-ups could regularly inform the gambler on what is and the consequences of gambling addiction.
An integral and coherent policy and a constructive collaboration with the sector must provide the gambler with the necessary tools to make gambling a form of recreation and not a source of problems. A socially responsible online gambling offer is what WE make of it. Online gambling as a pleasant recreation is what YOU make of it.
