ANJ and BGC have joined forces to collaborate in promoting safer gambling practices

The collaboration between L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) and the Belgian Gambling Commission (BGC) aims to effectively address and mitigate the issue of problem gambling.

In an effort to enhance their regulatory activities and promote safer gambling, France and Belgium’s regulatory authorities have signed a new cooperation protocol. The agreement between l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) and the Belgian Gambling Commission (BGC) will facilitate the sharing of information and coordination of efforts between the two countries.

The protocol outlines strategic cooperation between the ANJ and BGC, which includes data sharing, joint investigations, and collaborative reporting within the gambling sector. Both regulators have also committed to keeping each other informed about any future regulatory amendments.

While the full collaboration agreement is currently available on the BGC’s website, it is currently only provided in French.

Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, Chairwoman of the ANJ, and Magali Clavie, Chairwoman of the BGC, have signed the document during the European Gaming Regulators Forum held last week.

This collaboration between France and Belgium’s regulatory authorities comes at a time when both countries are actively seeking to further regulate their gambling markets. France, in particular, has been addressing issues of problem gambling and underage participation and has implemented measures such as banning sponsorship campaigns featuring sports celebrities. The ANJ closely scrutinizes the safer gambling plans of license holders, rejecting those that are deemed insufficient.

Despite the popularity of gambling in France, which generates significant revenue and tax income, the high rates of problem gambling have been a long-standing concern for the ANJ.

Similarly, Belgium aims to limit the negative impact of gambling advertising. A ban on gambling advertisements, supported by King Philippe and Justice Minister Vincent van Quickenborne, is scheduled to commence on July 1. This ban seeks to prevent companies from actively advertising their gambling products to the general population, with the goal of reducing gambling-related harm.

Belgium plans to further remove gambling imagery from sports fields starting in 2025 and implement a ban on sports sponsorship deals with gambling companies from 2028.

By collaborating and implementing stricter regulations, France and Belgium aspire to address the challenges associated with gambling and minimize the harmful effects on individuals, particularly vulnerable populations.