Illegal online gambling poses a considerable threat to gamblers, especially the most vulnerable who do not benefit from any of the safeguards put in place by the Belgian legislator.  It is also a danger to society as a whole, as it fosters the development of other illegal activities and is a tool for money laundering. Moreover, it is an elusive phenomenon, against which it is particularly complicated to fight: when a website is blacklisted by the Gambling Commission, it very quickly reappears under a slightly different URL.  

The symposium highlighted the importance of coordinating actions of the various players involved in the matter: the legislator and the government, the Gambling Commission, the legal gambling operators, the public prosecutor's office, the health care sector, telephone operators and banks. They all have certain levers at their disposal to act against this deleterious phenomenon. These different levers, if not coordinated, will however be ineffective, therefore, the initiation of a constructive dialogue between the actors is essential.

Finally, it was considered essential to bear in mind the international nature of illegal online gambling. An effective fight can only be achieved through the development of international synergies. Professor Lorena Bachmaier Winter, member of the ELI Council and Co-Reporter of ELI’s Admissibility of E-Evidence in Criminal Proceedings in the EU project, give a remarkable presentation on e-proceedings in this matter.

The programme is available here (in French).