Despite stricter rules, gambling industry books huge profits
The Belgian gambling industry made a record amount of money last year. Legislation aimed at curbing the industry is proving to have no effect on its profits, De Standaard reports on Thursday.
The industry made a gross profit of more than 1.7 billion euros in 2023, according to the latest financial report from the Belgian Gaming Commission. This is despite 2023 being the first full year of a number of new gambling regulations.
For example, an online gambling limit of 200 euros per week per website has been in place since the end of 2022. The measure is an attempt to protect gamblers.
However, the Gambling Commission notes that "the only significant reduction has been in betting in daily newspaper shops". Effects of other restrictions, such as online limits, are "not noticeable" in the figures.
"We all have a casino in our pocket these days"
Both online and offline, the sector grew significantly last year. Gross profit in physical locations such as bingo machines in cafes, casinos and betting shops, grew by an average of 15 per cent. For online games, average growth was even higher, at 18 per cent.
"This is what we have been warning about," said Ronny Willemen, counsellor at gambling support organisation Gokhulp. "We all have a casino in our pocket these days."
He is not surprised that the measure of 200 euros per website per week has brought little relief. "People can raise the limit themselves," he says.
© BELGA PHOTO JOHN THYS
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