Duty of Care Agreement Introduced in Belgium

Article by : Milena Petrovska Nov 21, 2023

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Six Belgian operators, part of the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO), have united behind the so-called Duty of Care agreement. This document offers a clear framework for keeping Belgian consumers safe during their online gambling activities.

Each signing operator has agreed to work on a prevention policy whose goal would be identifying and preventing problematic gambling behavior. The concept plans the development of such a prevention policy based on scientific facts, which the BAGO has requested from the government.

BAGO’s Chairman, Tom De Clercq, has commented on the Duty of Care agreement. He said the association’s focus was on creating environments that enable players to gamble responsibly and safely. De Clercq highlighted the Duty of Care as “a useful addition” to other national protective tools and policies. In this regard, he mentioned deposit limits and EPIS checks, both implemented in the Belgian gambling market.

Helping Belgian Consumers Make Smart Choices

BAGO’s Vice President, Emmanuel Mewissen, also commented on the agreement. He highlighted that it wasn’t enough to create safe legal environments only. He explained that players must be given the opportunity to navigate the industry individually.

Mewissen didn’t miss the chance to correlate the difficulty of players sticking to legal operators with the recent gambling advertising ban in the country. According to his statement, one in five Belgians gamble on illegal websites. He warned that tomorrow the ratio could increase to two in five or even more.

Per the latest data, about 70% of Belgians gamble at online gambling sites.

BAGO has voiced concerns about the ban on advertising gambling activities in the country. The association backs evidence-based moves, demanding measuring and adjusting any changes. In BAGO’s official statement regarding the Duty of Care, the example in Italy was mentioned. Namely, the country banned gambling advertising, a step that reportedly boosted the growth of the country’s illegal market.

Even BAGO’s secretary general, Damien Thiéry, supported these views. He quoted Sciensano’s data, claiming that about 0.9% of the Belgian population is vulnerable to gambling addiction. Emotional, personal, and financial problems were the most common issues among individuals susceptible to problem gambling.

Thiéry further explained that sustainable economic activity and growth of the industry couldn’t be built on addiction. That’s why Belgian gaming operators strive to offer safe entertainment for their consumers.

Four Leading Stipulates

Four stipulations represent the cornerstones of the Duty of Care signed by the six Belgian gaming operators. Here’s an overview of what they are and what they symbolize.

1. Detection system – AI, algorithms, and markers of harm would be implemented to help identify risky behavior. These tools would use criteria such as playing time, playing frequency, deposits, intensity, and other relevant factors.
2. Player protection – This segment focuses on two aspects – actions and recommendations for players that promote responsible gambling. The Duty of Care cites reality checks, deposit limits, and self-exclusion as some of the ways to improve player protection.
3. Staff training – Training of the staff is essential in identifying problems and then responding appropriately.
4. Prevention policy – BAGO shall work closely with the Gaming Commission toward creating an independent control mechanism.

Finally, BAGO demanded the government to make the newly introduced Duty of Care mandatory for all Belgian operators, the National Lottery included.