In 2024, almost 56,000 Belgian gamblers deliberately withdrew themselves from gaming, representing a 13.6% increase from the previous year.
Last April, Belgium took an important step toward implementing stronger laws to combat the growing number of gambling addicts in the online market.
A few months later, on September 1, the European country that had recently added Polymarket to its list of banned websites implemented a new set of responsible gambling protections.
The combination of efforts, which included further significant policy reforms, appears to have paid off.
56,458 people choose to abstain from gambling on a voluntary basis last year, a 13.6% rise over the previous year.
Peter Van Rompuy, leader of the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) faction in the Flemish Parliament, obtained the data from former Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt.
EPIS Records a 120% Registration Increase
Belgium’s Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS), in effect since 2004, allows people to self-register in order to prohibit them from accessing gambling sites and events.
The number of people on the EPIS list has constantly grown, with a 120% increase from 2015, when 32,136 people were registered.
Van Rompuy went on to stress the growing worry over gambling addiction.
According to the CD&V head, it is a “social problem that not only causes financial misery but also leads to significant human suffering.”
He also praised the government’s proactive approach to addressing the issue, describing the EPIS list as a critical protection tool for vulnerable individuals.
Van Rompuy praised the Gaming Commission’s efforts to raise awareness about the list and streamline the registration process.
Individuals have been able to self-register via the Itsme app since late 2021, making it easier to opt into exclusion.
In addition to the Itsme application, individuals with a Belgian identity card or a residency permit can apply for an access ban using an electronic form (French and Dutch versions are available) or a card reader with their Belgian identity card.
Foreign Belgian residents or those without a Belgian identity card or residence permission may apply using a different electronic form.
Professional Obligation and Judicial Request Exclusions
In addition to voluntary exclusions, safeguards are in place to limit access to gambling for professional reasons.
Bailiffs, notaries, and police officials, for example, may be refused access to gambling sites and venues in order to fulfill their professional obligations.
Last year, roughly 59,000 persons were expelled for professional grounds, while nearly 5,500 were barred on judicial orders. Furthermore, 62,068 exclusions related to collective debt settlement.
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