Belgium Launches New Gambling Strategy with Appointments to Kansspelcommissie

Introduction to Belgium’s Gambling Reform

Belgium has embarked on an ambitious six-year plan aimed at transforming its gambling industry. This initiative began with the announcement of new appointments to the Kansspelcommissie (KSC), the country’s principal gaming regulatory authority.

Expanded Government Involvement in the KSC

Starting September 1, as outlined in the Royal Decree published in late August, the KSC welcomed a fresh group of members comprising twelve effective and twelve substitute officials. This change follows the departure of several previous members and highlights increased governmental engagement by involving five different ministers in the commission’s operations.

The ministers represented within the KSC are:

• The Minister of Finance, who also oversees the National Lottery
• The Minister of Justice
• The Minister of Economy
• The Minister of the Interior
• The Minister of Public Health

The Ministry of Finance maintains a pivotal role by continuing supervision of the Belgian National Lottery.

Details of the 12 Effective Members Appointed to the KSC

These new members have been appointed to serve six-year terms, representing both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities. The breakdown of appointees by ministerial representation is as follows:

Justice Ministry Representatives:

• Nathalie Patoussa (French-speaking)
• Daisy Vervenne (Dutch-speaking)

Finance Ministry Representatives:

• Anne-Loure Mouligneaux (French-speaking)
• Ignace Vandewalle (Dutch-speaking)

Economy Ministry Representatives:

• Michaël Stokard (French-speaking)
• Sahin Yazici (Dutch-speaking)

Interior Ministry Representatives:

• Stéphane Obeid (French-speaking)
• Béatrice Vossen (Dutch-speaking)

Public Health Ministry Representatives:

• Ferdinand Van Der Gracht (French-speaking)
• Lena Boons (Dutch-speaking)

National Lottery Representatives:

• Tom Van Caeckenberghe (French-speaking)
• Caroline Dujacquier (Dutch-speaking)

Substitute Members Also Appointed

Alongside the effective members, the government appointed twelve substitute members who will also serve for six years. These individuals are assigned as deputies to their respective primary members, maintaining the balance of representation across linguistic lines and ministries:

Justice Ministry Deputies:

• Jessica Failla for Nathalie Patoussa
• Niek De Meester for Daisy Vervenne

Finance Ministry Deputies:

• Pierre Mouligneaux for Anne-Loure Mouligneaux
• Philippe Waeytens for Ignace Vandewalle

Economy Ministry Deputies:

• Virginie Desmet for Michaël Stokard
• Koen Peumans for Sahin Yazici

Interior Ministry Deputies:

• Lucas Ducarme for Stéphane Obeid
• Philip Willekens for Béatrice Vossen

Public Health Ministry Deputies:

• Sandrine Daoud for Ferdinand Van Der Gracht
• Isabel Moens for Lena Boons

National Lottery Deputies:

• Michel De Wolf for Tom Van Caeckenberghe
• Maarten Van Sande for Caroline Dujacquier