Belgium's fight against unlicensed online poker operators reached new heights this week, as the country's Gambling Commission (BGC) decided to levy fines against 79 Belgian nationals who have played at Betclic.com, the gambling portal owned by the Betclic-Everest Group.
Although the Belgian legislation on gambling would allow the authorities to issue fines for up to €150,000 to each individual caught on unlicensed sites, the BGC decided to start off with a much less threatening amount and asked each and every player included in the list to pay a €200 penalty.
However, as the BGC President Etienne Marique explained, the operation against the Belgian nationals who choose to play on unlicensed sites is only in its early stages, as the authorities are evaluating the position of a much larger number of players based in Belgium.