Bwin Must Answer on Illegal Belgian Gambling Activities

Norbert Teufelberger, bwin.party digital entertainment’s co-founder and co-chief executive officer, was released by Belgian authorities after a brief two-hour detainment on Tuesday.

Teufelberger was taken into custody after his key note address at a networking lunch event. Funnily, the function was held on the European Gaming and Betting Association’s (EGBA) annual Responsible Gaming Day in Brussels on Tuesday.

According to online gambling news in Belgium, bwin and its boss must answer some serious questions on the legality of their online gambling operations in the country until December 17.

Bwin is on the so-call black list of the Belgian Gambling Association, meaning the company operates online casinos in Belgium illegally.

Legal advisor to the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC), Peter Naessens, confirmed his association opinion that bwin’s online gambling activities operations in Belgium are indeed illegal.

Naessens informed: “We have repeatedly asked them to apply for a license and they have refused to comply.”

Bwin states that the Belgian gambling law is not compliant with European Union regulations, which require member states to open their gambling markets for competing operators.

The company issued a brief statement that claimed: “In response to press reports this afternoon, the Group can confirm that Norbert Teufelberger, Co-CEO, was requested to attend an interview with the Belgium authorities. He complied voluntarily with this request and is co-operating fully with the authorities.”

The Bwin statement added: “We will issue further details in due course.”

It is not the first time when Teufelberger clashed with the Law, French police detained him in 2006 after a Monaco football club sponsorship event.