Poker News – While the company risks becoming the first operator to ever be charged with criminal sanctions in Belgium, Betclic Everest has announced its decision to pull out from the country. Starting Monday, Betclic Everest’s four different brands including Betclic and Bet-at-Home will no longer be available to Belgium residents. The decision comes while Belgium’s Public Prosecution Office (PPO) carries an investigation on Betclic operations that could result into a €1.2m fine for the company. As reported by eGaming Review, a spokesperson from Betclic confirmed the group’s withdrawal from the Belgian market, but refused to issue any further statement…

Gaming Intelligence – Belgium’s Loterie Nationale has been granted a new sports betting licence by the Belgian Gambling Commission which allows the national lottery to offer its SCOOORE! product through its e-lotto.be online platform. The new licence follows the decision last month by Belgium’s Council of State to cancel a royal decree concerning the provision of sports betting services by the state-owned Loterie Nationale.  This was a result of a legal challenge by private licensed operators. FULL ARTICLE (SUBSCRIPTION)

Poker News – Belgium’s Gambling Commission has doubled the number of inspectors on its staff, which could lead to a hunt for players on non-licensed gambling sites. “The Belgian Gambling Commission (BGC) reportedly announced that it would extend its actions to online players,” said Patrick Van Eecke and Antoon Dierick from international law firm DLA Piper. “It will be interesting to see how far the BGC wishes to go in fining individual players and whether the Public Prosecution office is also willing to make infringements in this area a matter of prosecution priority.” DLA Piper’s words were triggered by some…