./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.98.349
10 July 1998
(98-2741)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  BELGIUM
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2): Belgium
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Justice
Directorate-General of Criminal Legislation and Human Rights
Boulevard de Waterloo 115
B – 1000 Brussels
Tel:  32 2 542 67 34
Fax:  32 2 542 67 67
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where appl icable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Gambling machines, the
practical conditions for which are to be determined by Crown.  In the draft Law, the term
"games of chance" is taken to mean any gami ng or betting involving a stake and entailing
either a loss or a gain to the players or organizers and in which chance is a factor, albeitincidental, for the purposes of the game, determining the winner and establishing the gain.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Amendment to the Draft
Law Concerning the Games of Chance and Gaming Establishments Act
6. Description of content:  Games of chance and gaming establishments may be operated only
under a temporary conditional licence from the Gaming Commission, which is an advisory,
decision-making and supervisory body forming part of the Ministry of Justice.  The licences
are for three types of establishments:  casinos (class I), gambling machine parlours (class II)
and bars (class III), depending upon the method of operation and the various games ofchance involved.  Moreover, licences are required for professional activities in a gaming
establishment and for economic and commercial activities related to games of chance, such
as sales, production, importation, etc.  The terms and conditions shall be established by the
Crown.
Furthermore, a number of measures to protect players are also established, together
with criminal provisions.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:
Gambling machines under the direct or indirect control of the Metrology Service of the
Ministry of Economic Affairs.G/TBT/Notif.98.349
Page 2
8. Relevant documents: -
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: } 60 days
10. Final date for comments:           
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X ] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body:  CIBELNOR