The gambling industry is very massive, and with the potential harm gambling can cause, it needs to be regulated. The way gambling is regulated in individual regions is quite different. Some countries use a central governing agency to enforce gambling laws, while others give each state the freedom to regulate gambling as it deems fit.

In today’s article, we focus on gambling laws in Belgium and the Netherlands. Previously, gambling online in the Netherlands and Belgium was prohibited. But with the passage of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), players can now place legal sports bets and play casino games over the internet. But with this freedom comes other restrictions, which we will shed more light on in this article.

Changes Belgium and Netherlands made to their gambling laws

The gambling laws in Belgium and the Netherlands were tightened recently. These changes aim to promote responsible gambling. Regulators want to create a safe space for players and, at the same time, reduce the number of youths involved in gambling. These changes imply that operators will likely look for new markets where the gambling laws are not so demanding. But what are these laws, and how do they impact the operators in the regions?

Universal loss limit

One of the changes made to the gambling laws in these regions is the push for a universal loss limit. This change was reportedly partitioned by Bikker in the Netherlands. This partition aims to protect players who may be struggling with problem gambling. Gambling can be addictive, and cause players to make irrational decisions.

As a result, the universal loss limit aims to reduce the deposit limits allowed to be accepted by all licensed operators. This change was introduced on the 13^th of February, 2024, and was announced by the Ministry of Justice & Security. With this new gambling law, players won’t be allowed to make an affordability check.

Financial risk checks

Before voting for the universal loss limit proposal, Franc Weerwind, the Minister for Legal Protections, rejected ChristenUnie’s (CU’s) mandate. Weerwind argued that there’s no need for a universal loss limit since a financial risk check was already incorporated in the approved and imminent amendments.

Weerwind further went on to say rather than a universal loss limit, compulsory financial risk checks for players’ accounts that are more than €350 or equivalent in spending will be more beneficial to the state, players, and operators. The Minister for Legal Protection whose job is to oversee KOA reforms, argued a €150 spending restriction will be imposed on gambling accounts of customers under 24.

Stricter financial penalties

Another change we can expect to see in gambling is stricter financial penalties. This amendment aims to create a safe space for players to gamble. A former member of the House of Representatives, Michiel Van Nispan of the Netherlands for the Socialist Party (SC) proposed a stricter financial penalty.

Van Nispan argued that with stricter financial penalties in place, gambling operators would be more cautious not to violate gambling laws. Amongst the penalties, Van Nispan suggested a fine of 10% of turnover for gambling companies that violate the KOA regulations. The former member of the House of Rep also suggested revoking the license of operators who fail to provide satisfactory player protection. Up to 102 MPs supported Van Nispan’s mandates, and it was passed.

Belgium increases gambling age

In Belgium, the official gambling, whether online or offline, was previously 18. However, the new gambling legislation has increased the legal gambling age to 21 and it has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The aim of increasing the legal age to gamble is to reduce the number of youths involved in any form of gambling.

Regulators believe that by reducing the number of youths involved in gambling, they will be more likely to get involved in more productive acts that will contribute to the development of society. Also, increasing the legal gambling age will help reduce the cases of gambling problems as it protects minors from the potential harms of gambling.

Online gambling advertising ban

Another of the three motions proposed by the CDA MP Derk Bosswijk is the call for a blanket ban on gambling advertising. However, this proposal was rejected as it fell short by 6 votes of the required 76-vote majority. Nevertheless, the Dutch minister thought of the proposal as useful and maintained that overreaching player limits must be included in the KOA Acts going forward.

Although Belgium’s National Lottery will be exempted from the ban. Also, online operators in the Western European country are prohibited from offering more than one type of gambling.

Conclusion

In summary, the aim of these new gambling laws in Belgium and the Netherlands is to tighten responsible gambling. Regulators want to provide a safe space for gamblers, and also reduce the number of youths involved in gambling.

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Italy has taken a significant step towards a comprehensive reform of its online gambling sector in 2024, as the government has decided to proceed with the Ministry of the Economy and Finance (MEF)’s decree to reorganize the gambling sector. However, newly envisioned licensing fees have caused significant friction with operators who accused policymakers of their haphazard and chaotic approach.

The New Decree Aims to Bolster Customer Safety

According to the Italian government, the new legislation aims to safeguard players, especially minors, combat criminal activities, and bolster tax revenues for public projects and social causes. The new decree encompasses measures to tackle illegal gambling, protect vulnerable players, introduce self-limitation tools, disseminate cautionary messages, and enforce customer restrictions based on deposit levels. 

Licensing fees will also receive a significant revamp, rising drastically to €7 million ($7.66 million) from 2018’s €200,000 ($392,000). Operators will also be subject to a 3% operating fee on their net revenues, along with an additional annual 0.2% fee contributing to responsible gaming campaigns under the jurisdiction of a dedicated gambling department of Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM).

The reformed concessions system will impose a cap of five licenses for each operator, aiming to eliminate ‘skin websites’ and single concessionaire product sales, a concern previously raised by the ADM. The government anticipates generating significant revenues, estimating €350 million ($383.6 million) from competition and an additional €100 million ($109.6 million)  annually from concession fees.

Italian Operators Strongly Protest Some of the Changes

Despite the government’s best intentions, some measures have raised significant concerns among industry stakeholders, like the Italian Association of Public Games Operators and Italy’s Association for Slot Machine Vendors. They urged the government to involve the industry in making necessary changes before proceeding with the decree, warning that the proposed changes would disproportionately hurt smaller businesses.

With 83 existing operators in Italy, the government expects at least 50 to apply for the new concession, signifying a notable industry shift and a means to resolve legal disputes surrounding licensing extensions. While the government has envisioned new measures to block unlicensed websites and transactions with illegal operators, the broader industry warns that they may fail to achieve their desired effect.

We urge the Council of Ministers to reconsider the proposal, as it will make the country’s online gambling black market problem even worse, not better.

Maarten Haijer, European Gaming & Betting Association secretary general

Despite rising discontent from industry representatives, the Italian government appears determined to proceed with its planned revisions. Treasury Deputy Minister Maurizio Leo and PM Giorgia Meloni have expressed their support for the reorganization, focusing on the economic benefits and improved customer safety. However, the refusal to engage with the industry raises growing concerns that the new decree may have unintended consequences.

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Mohegan Sun, a well-known casino and entertainment complex in Connecticut owned by the federally recognized Mohegan Tribe, recently announced that Tesla would set up a showroom with a sales and delivery center on its sovereign property this fall.

Sales & Delivery Center Opens at Mohegan Sun Casino Complex

The Tesla Sales & Delivery Center at Mohegan Sun will be situated within the casino complex, providing customers with the unique experience of test-driving vehicles around the resort. Additionally, Tesla plans to showcase its solar and storage products at the location, making it a comprehensive showcase of the company’s offerings for interested customers.

This decision marks Tesla’s second foray into tribal territories, as it was previously reported that the company planned to open another showroom on the lands of the Oneida Indian Nation in upstate New York by 2025, reported Associated Press.

The move to tribal lands comes as Tesla faces staunch opposition from traditional car dealerships and state lawmakers who have blocked the company’s attempts to obtain dealership licenses and establish direct-to-consumer sales in several states.

Hayden Reynolds, chairperson of the Connecticut Automotive Retail Association, emphasized the importance of maintaining a level playing field for all car dealerships in the state. While respecting the sovereignty of the Mohegan Tribe, Reynolds stated that the association still opposes Tesla’s direct-to-consumer model, claiming that Connecticut’s dealer franchise laws benefit consumers and promote healthy competition.

Tesla’s Victory in Delaware Paves Way for Direct Sales

Tesla has been engaged in various legal battles and advocacy efforts to alter state laws and regulations to enable its direct sales approach. The company secured a significant victory earlier in the year when the Delaware Supreme Court overturned a ruling preventing Tesla from selling cars directly to customers in the state.

Tesla’s move to open showrooms on tribal lands has been seen as a strategic way to work around the restrictive state laws. The company had previously established its first showroom and repair shop on Native American land in 2021, partnering with the Nambé Pueblo tribe in New Mexico.

Mohegan Bolsters PR and Advertising Teams

Mohegan has recently ramped up its PR and advertising efforts with a shake-up of its PR and advertising teams. In March Mohegan appointed Cody Chapman as PR Director and Charisse Huff as PR Manager to bolster its corporate PR team.

Both longtime members of Mohegan are focusing on external communication strategies and overseeing media relations for Mohegan’s properties, primarily in the Northeast. Additionally, in April Mohegan Sun appointed David Fausel as its director of advertising. With over two decades of experience in the advertising industry, Fausel will lead the company’s advertising and marketing strategy and provide strategic guidance for the “All in for Mohegan” ad campaign.

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Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, has signed off on a fresh list of restrictions for the country’s gambling industry. Notable among the list is the new directive that only land-based casinos can hold online casino licenses, leaving just three players in the field.

Ever since Prime Minister Garibashvili took on the reins of the country, he has introduced some stringent conditions to operators in the country’s gambling industry. For instance, last year the government decided to make operators pay for licenses for each verticals, instead of a blanket license. This means operators have to pay separate permit fees for each vertical they want to offer such as slots, online casino and betting. An annual permit fee for each vertical is set at ₾100,000 (€35,580).

Asides that, the prime minister also raised legal gambling age from 18 to 25 while putting a 10% tax on gross gaming revenue and a 2% tax on player winnings. In addition, he banned individuals who are on government payroll either as a civil servant or receiving financial aid.

Meanwhile, the latest set of rules would allow just Iveria, Crystalbet and Adjara Group to offer casino gambling in the country. But the government is also planning on selling exclusive rights to operators looking to offer online casino in the country for the fee of ₾5m (€1.6m).

The prime minister explained that his strict rules were to curb gambling addiction in the country. He added that the rules are to protect Georgian players from being exploited by gambling companies either at home or from abroad.

Operators are however protesting the draconian laws of the prime minister citing them as stifling the industry, and even unlawful. Some operators, such as PokerStars, have started pulling out of the country.

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