Belgian Gaming Commission suspends Ladbrokes’ license

The Belgian Gaming Commission has shown a symbolic yellow card to Ladbrokes, as it decided to suspend the betting giant’s license in the country for 24 hours next month. This move is after the commission found that Ladbrokes provided unauthorised virtual betting service to Belgian customers.

According to the Brussels Times, the violations occurred in 2017 and earlier this year.

The suspension will take effect on September 3, from that Ladbrokes blocked from accepting retail or online bets from customers in Belgium.

The punishment will be imposed on the Tiercé Ladbroke brand and Derby SA, the Belgian subsidiary of the bookmaker, the report said.

Until the end of June 2017, Ladbrokes had an effective monopoly on land-based virtual betting in the country, with no other operator having received the same authorisation, despite challenges from the likes of Rocoluc.

According to the report, Ladbrokes continued to offer virtual betting up to March 14 this year.

The commission noted that the company had “not contested the materiality of the facts.”