MARKET REPORT SUPPLEMENT www.euroslot-online.com
BELGIUM
the government is keen to avoid the spread of There is a choice for the machine operator –
illegal poker games. It has been suggested that the if the machine pays out a cash prize (however
game of poker be permitted in class I and II gaming small) then the tax payable for the year is Euros
T
his year, the Belgian government establishments (casinos and gaming arcades). 3,550. The alternative is to pay out a ticket
approved a new gaming law. The Belgian In this case, the games would have to meet from the machine to the same value, which can
Council of Ministers approved the new bill certain requirements such as a maximum hourly be redeemed at the bar for food or drinks. If the
in March with the aim of streamlining the loss but the attraction for the player is that he operator goes down this route, then the tax
machine licensing structure in the country, or she is certain of receiving any winnings. This payable for the year is just Euros 300.
which in the previous law of 1999 gave authority new law opens up the possibility for arcades and Operators are still struggling with their online
for licences to various different agencies. casinos to run interactive games of poker. machine communication systems that link their
Above all, the new law tackled the thorny games of chance to the Gaming Board. In
issue of internet gaming and decided that only addition, there is still a long waiting list for B
those with existing Belgian land-based gaming
New gaming machines in
licences (gaming arcades). The law limits the
operations could apply for an online gaming number of gaming arcades in the country to 180
licence. Understandably, this move was not
Belgian bars and cafes must
and this limit was reached at the end of 2004.
welcomed by some of the more established Since then, only one licence has become free.
online gaming companies such as Unibet, that
be equipped with player
The frustration of those wanting to open
are well established in other markets. They are locations is compounded by the fact that many
currently pursuing the case in the European
identification technology
of the 180 authorised arcades are not actually
Courts citing the freedom of free movement open for business, because they are located in
directive. The EC has until the end of June to areas that are not interesting commercially.
consider accepting the proposals. A new type of game was approved by the
Operators are also faced with the news that all Gaming Board for bars and restaurants, last
new gaming machines in Belgian bars and cafes year. It is a very low stake and low win machine DATA (according to the Belgian trade association the UBA)
must be equipped with player identification with a maximum stake of 20 Euro cents and a
technology by the beginning of next year. maximum jackpot of six Euros ten cents. Only In 2008, Metrology has approved several new
Another issue facing the Belgian gaming one machine of this type can be sited within games/kits that can be operated in the different types
industry at the moment is the trend for poker. In each bar – there are 15,000 bars in Belgium, so of gaming establishments.
the face of growing popularity for the card game, this is the limit to the size of the market. The total number of games/kits approved for operation in :
Casinos: 167 (137 in 2007)
Gaming Arcades: 98 (89 in 2007)
Pubs: 79 (66 in 2007)
30
SEPTEMBER 2009
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