Everything about casino licenses in Belgium: From A+ to F1+
The Casino industry in Belgium is regulated by the Belgian Gaming Commission. Players at online casino Belgium can access a variety of games on different platforms such as computers and smartphones. There are a total of 5 casino licences available in Belgium; these casino licenses and their importance with respect to requirements, are the focus of this article.
Types of Casino Licenses in Belgium
1. Class A+ License
The Class A+ licence is the most complete of all the licences available to iGaming operators in Belgium, and allows them to provide a full range of online gambling services, including dice games, slot games and classic table games. The licence is usually obtained by a land-based casino that wants to become a fully fledged online casino.
2. Class B+ License
A Class B+ license is granted to the online slot machine operators. The B+ license authorizes businesses to participate in playing electronic slot machines, such as video poker and the like. Are based solely on slot gaming and looking for severe fans of the genre.
3. Class F1+ License
The Class F1+ licence is meant for betting agencies. It covers all types of sports betting and associated activities. according to the authorities, betting on a wide range of sporting events is a “highly popular” activity. Operators with the Class F1+ licence can offer services of sports betting, an online segment in Belgium that is almost twice as large as the offline business, generating €166 million in 2015.
4. Class E+ License
This Class E+ licence is given to software providers. These licences form an important protection mechanism because only software that conforms with the standards of the Belgian Gaming Commission can be used within the licenced online casino and betting sites. This is why a Class E+ licence is always solid proof that a gaming site respects the law.
Regulatory Body: The Belgian Gaming Commission
The Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) is the federal institution supervising all gambling operations. Inspectors of the BGC make sure that all operators respect the legal principles, to the extent that the player can feel safe, and the game is administered honestly and reliably. The BGC is responsible for issuing the various classes of licence, as well as monitoring compliance in an ongoing manner.
Importance of Licensing for Players
1. Security and Fairness
Licensed casinos are required to have a system of security measures in place to safeguard the privacy and safety of players’ data and ensure their protection in terms of privacy and finances. The most recently introduced rules on gaming and betting stipulate a system of licensing, with the explicit aim of protecting consumers and guaranteeing regulatory oversight of gambling establishments and online gambling sites. Back-office checks and securities are in place to ensure the validity and honesty of gaming practices and payments. There are regular audits of the finances of licensed casinos and strict methodologies, as well as penalties if a casino is adjudged to have behaved dishonestly.
2. Responsible Gambling
Licensed operators must promote responsible gambling – tools and resources for players to manage their gambling, including self-exclusion and deposit limits.
3. Legal Protection
Those that do play for real money, with an online casino licenced by the Belgian Gaming Commission, are thus protected by Belgian law. If things go wrong, one has the right of appeal, and can rest easy that, by comparison with other reasons to play responsibly, gambling isn’t actually such a huge sin after all.
How to Verify a Casino’s License
Players should never commit to making any deposit at any online casino before verifying that the company has a proper license. Below are the recommended steps on how to ensure a casino is licensed. ➢ Check them out by running a simple online search to ascertain whether they have been reported as unlicensed. ➢ Check if the site carries the logo of a generally recognised online casino regulatory body such as the Malta Gaming Authority, eCOGRA, Gaming Alliance, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Technical System Testing (TST), or any other globally recognised chunk of text associated with the regulatory authority in the jurisdiction where the gambling site is based.
Look at the Casino’s Website: Licensed casinos will usually have their licensing details displayed on their homepage or in the footer.
Go to the site of the Belgian Gambling Commission: The website of the BGC features a list of all licensed operators. The player can cross-check this list with the operator’s website to determine if it is legit.
Read Reviews/Test typically be able to see reviews and testimonials of other players that have tried the casino. These can offer useful additional indications of its good operating status.