No State aid to Ladbrokes for virtual betting operations
The Commission has concluded an investigation launched in September 2020 after a complaint by other operators of the game of chance sector alleging the grant of State aid to Ladbrokes through the allocation of virtual betting operating rights.
This conclusion follows an in-depth assessment of whether the Belgian Gaming Commission had given Ladbrokes exclusive rights to offer virtual betting, potentially violating EU State aid rules.The Commission found that informal email communications from the Belgian Gaming Commission to Ladbrokes did not amount to a formal act of granting aid or exclusive rights for virtual betting. Additionally, Belgium did not waive any state resources owed by Ladbrokes for operating virtual betting. Therefore, the Commission concluded that no State aid was involved.
For more information, see the Commission’s PR.