The Limburg city of Genk will soon become the first city in Flanders to be devoid of bookmakers. Just a few years ago Genk still had ten betting shop. However, since then the city authorities have no longer renewed the licences that gambling establishment need to be able to operate and the number of bookmakers has dwindled to just one now. Genk’s last betting shop will close in December.
The city authorities in Genk say that they want to protect vulnerable people who fall deep into debt and end up in poverty because of gambling.
The city’s Mayor Wim Dries (Christian democrat) told VRT News that previously Genk had the most betting shops in the whole of Limburg. “We asked the then Minister of Justice, Koen Geens (Flemish Christian democrar), to strengthen the regulations on gambling establishment and he did so in 2021.” Mr Dries added that the presence of bookmakers and other establishments where people can gamble is problematic for a municipal authority as “People fall into poverty and get into serious debt. This can lead to mental and social issues”.
No new licences
In recent years the City of Genk has no longer issued licences to gambling establishments. As these licences have to be renewed every few years the number of betting shops in the city has gradually fallen from 10 to just 1 now. The last gambling establishment in Genk will close in three months.
Mr Dries explained what reasons can be given for refusing to issue a licence. "We can refuse to issue a licence due to the proximity establishments for young people (schools, youth clubs, sports facilities,...) or places of worship. This pretty much covers the whole of Genk with the exception of industrial estates, but there a licence can be refused for another reason”.
Another two betting shops closed in Genk last weekend and the last bookmaker in the city’s license expires on 11 December.
Although there will soon be no more bookmakers people in Genk that fancy a flutter will still be able to gamble if they wish "Gambling can still be allowed in other places, for example at newsagents on gaming machines or in cafés on a bingo machine. There is not much we can do about this at the moment, but we are carrying out checks. There are also three arcades, whose licenses run until 2027-2028” Mayor Dries told the VRT.
10 people laid-off
Seydi Tekin owned three Betcenter bookmakers in Genk, the licenses of which were not renewed by the city authorities. Mr Tekin told VRT News that “We had to lay off 10 people. These were low-skilled people who won't find work easily. I don't think zero tolerance is a good thing."
Seydi Tekin fears that gambling will end up going underground. He added that “Anyone with a smart phone in their hand can start gambling online. Maybe the mayor would also like to ban smart phone?”
Betcenter has taken legal action against the City of Genk to closures overturned. Betcenter case is currently with Council of State.