Belarus Seeks to Tighten Gambling Consumer Protections

President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus has urged the Council of Ministers to pass sweeping reforms that will protect consumers engaged in gambling. During the recent meeting, Lukashenko said that Belarus should undertake several measures in order to better protect consumers.

Belarus Wants Tougher Consumer Protection Measures

First, people should not be allowed to make payments to foreign gambling websites, which tend to be predatory and operate without a license in the country. Blocking payment methods, the President argued, is the most efficient way to ensure that consumers are not tempted into placing offshore wagers.

Furthermore, Lukashenko said that the efforts to curb gambling-related harm should not stop there. The President urged people to be able to self-exclude from gambling, with people showing symptoms to be among the people targeted by this measure first and foremost.

Another measure pitched by the President has to do with the blocking of credit cards for gambling, as this allows compulsive gamblers to rack up debt and could have significant ramifications on their finance and personal life.

Lukashenko called for children and at-risk players to be protected under broader and stricter consumer protection measures that should be tailored to address these outstanding problems.

“To begin with, banks should be banned from transferring gambling-related money outside the country. The money earned here should be invested in the country. This applies to all areas of work,” he added.

Lukashenko spoke with understanding of the current gambling landscape in Belarus, arguing that he was well aware of how gambling businesses prey on vulnerable consumers, and said that the rules that stop this practice should be finalized.

Black Market Operations Not a Universal Belarusian Issue

Vulnerable gamblers take on debt and loans, as well as sell property, which they end up spending with foreign operators, the President added, urging immediate action. The issue with unlicensed websites is not universally Belarusian.

In Belgium, for example, about 25% of all players choose unlicensed platforms to gamble. In the Netherlands, another major European market, as much as 50% of all online gross gaming revenue may be in fact generated offshore.