JAXX subsidiary myBet.com said Thursday that it will open a number of betting shops in Belgium in the next few days after being awarded a sports betting licence by the Belgian Gambling Commission, paving the way for the company to launch online operations in the country once the regulatory framework has been finalised.
JAXX said that its newly established subsidiary, QED Belgium SPRL, was awarded an F1 licence in accordance with the new Belgian Gambling Law which was enacted on January 1st 2011, allowing the company to provide sports betting services over the counter at betting shops.
The company said that once the regulatory framework for online sports betting operations has been finalised, it is expected that the licence will be extended to include online products (F1+), with myBet.com having been one of the official participants in the 'Internet Test Group' set up by the Belgian Gaming Commission.
The F1 licence covers all three regions of Belgium and allows myBet.com to immediately offer sports betting in an unlimited number of betting shops. The company said that the first myBet.com shops are expected to be opened within the next few days.
“While Germany's federal states with the exception of Schleswig-Holstein are finding themselves increasingly isolated in the EU because of their protectionism, Belgium is yet another good example of how a market for gaming can be regulated sensibly and liberally - without stifling the emergence of competition in its infancy or neglecting sensitive topics such as player protection and gambling addiction,” said Mathias Dahms, JAXX’s management board spokesman.
“We are delighted to be able to compete in the Belgian market with such an outstanding brand as myBet.com.”
Belgium passed new gaming laws last year but currently has no government to sign them into existence. However, the Belgian Gambling Commission is granting licences despite the delay.
Last week Belgium published two decrees on online gaming licences in the Official Journal.
The first allows casinos, gaming halls and betting operators who already own a land-based license to apply for an additional online gaming licence from September 1st. Games and bets which they will be allows to propose must be identical to those offered in their land-based environment.
Secondly, the Belgian Gaming Commission may prosecute internet site who do not own a license as of next year and intends, among other things, to systemically block relevant sites. In the case of foreign sites, these will only be targeted if they target the Belgian market.
Until the entire licence procedure has been put in place, candidates for an additional gaming licence may offer their online gaming services in an 'experimental' phase, with temporary licences issued by the Commission.
The company said that the first myBet.com shops are expected to be opened within the next few days. tippetips
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