On Wednesday 2 September the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation to determine whether the right granted by Belgium to Ladbrokes to operate virtual betting in Belgium is in line with EU State aid rules.
In March 2019, two gaming operators lodged a complaint with the Commission alleging that Belgium had granted incompatible State aid to Ladbrokes in the form of an exclusive right to operate virtual betting.
Ladbrokes has nearly 300 betting offices in Belgium.
Until recently, Belgium did not have a specific legal framework to regulate this gaming. Upon Ladbrokes' request, the federal regulator which controls the gaming sector in Belgium (the Gaming Commission) authorised Ladbrokes to operate virtual betting, in particular in betting shops (in February 2014) and online (in March 2015).
However, the Gaming Commission later denied the same right to other operators on several occasions in 2015-2016. But it did not cancel Ladbrokes' licence during this period.
The Commission has concerns that the authorisation granted to Ladbrokes may have resulted in the betting company benefiting from a de facto exclusive right to operate virtual betting in Belgium since 2014 without any remuneration in favour of the Belgian State by Ladbrokes in return. The measure may have distorted competition. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)