Belgium Issues EPIS Technical Guidelines for Newspaper Retailers Ahead of May Deadline

The Belgian Gaming Commission (GC) has published a draft technical note outlining implementation requirements for EPIS (Excluded Persons Information System) checks at newspaper retailers, ahead of the mandatory compliance date of May 1, 2026.

Certification RequirementsUnder the new rules, newspaper retailers offering gambling products must implement EPIS verification through certified computer systems. The legislation requires that these systems be:

Installed directly on retail devicesCertified by an accredited institution under Title 2 of Book VIII of the Code of Economic LawSubject to supervision by the GC's Technical Evaluations DepartmentConsultation Period ExtendedThe technical note was developed at the request of the newspaper retail sector to streamline the certification process. The GC has opened a consultation window for operators to submit questions and comments via legal@gamingcommission.be.

Due to the high volume of industry responses received, the Commission has announced a slight delay to the publication of the final technical guidance, originally scheduled for end of January 2026.

Operator Action RequiredRetailers and operators with newspaper retail distribution channels should review the draft specifications and submit any technical queries before the consultation closes. The final note will establish binding certification standards for all systems deployed at retail points.