Belgium’s and the Netherlands’ gambling regulators have issued warnings to operators over gambling ad restrictions connected to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.On May...
Belgian Kansspelcommissie will use IP blocking measures
A collaboration between the Kansspelcommissie gambling regulator, and DNS Belgium, the body responsible for managing the country’s domain extensions, has made the decision to impose IP blocking against unlicensed gambling operators.
Kansspelcommissie representatives will find and alert DNS of unlawful websites that operate without Belgian licenses, and DNS will notify the domain holder that their website violates registry rules. If the owner of the domain doesn’t comply with the rules, DNS has the power to take control of the domain. Additionally, users will be redirected to a warning page where it will be explained that the content is banned.
IP blocking is a common tactic used in fighting against illegal betting platforms, with countries like Australia, France, Bulgaria, and the UK implementing similar methods.
However, not all jurisdictions permit it, as there are concerns about breaches of constitutional rights to the freedom of choice.
For example, German courts have ruled that the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) regulator doesn’t have the authority to block operator IPs.
In another case, Swedish regulators must prove that the platform is specifically targeting local markets in order to qualify for IP blocking.
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