TO failed to answer my most recent mail. And I see the CM still hasn't answered on this issue either.

I sure did. They hide behind us, players, signing the EULA and therefore agreeing it's not a gambling game which is literally written in the EULA. Though, it's not because TO makes people 'agree' that it's not a gambling game, that it really is not since the containers violate the Dutch and Belgian constitution, which I have clearly stated in my message to Tech Support. I have fully explained even including the definition from the Belgian law and a referral to FIFA. Indeed. Though, Belgium and the Netherlands tie their hands with their gambling laws, which TO has been violating for way too long.

Tech Support gave me a more elaborate answer this time. "Hello, Before answering your questions we would like to draw your attention to the fact that: our project Tanki Online is still accessible from IPs other than Netherlands/Belgium meaning you are not losing your Account with all the Digital content that you have! Moreover Belgium IP support will be available until the end of 2020 so you will have time to play for your own amusement. Nevertheless as for the questions you have asked, we would like to refer you to the following articles of EULA (available at https://tankionline.com/en/): 11.5. The Company shall be entitled to unilaterally terminate this EULA granted herein and to desist from offering the Game to the User at its sole discretion and without prior notice and without returning any payments to the User. 20.3 You hereby expressly consent that the supply of digital content begins immediately after we have sent You the confirmation email. 21.2 You lose Your right of withdrawal insofar as the contract comprises the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium if the performance has begun with Your prior express consent and Your acknowledgment that You thereby lose Your right of withdrawal. Thus there is no refund available for you in this situation. 19.5. The User acknowledges and accepts that the Game is not a game of chance, a game for money, a contest or a bet. The purchase of a Digital Content is the realization of its own will and desire and is not necessary for the use of the Game according to this Agreement. Hence Tanki Online is not a gambling service and you have acknowledged that yourself. Moreover termination of the Belgium IP support for our project is more of a preventive measure to combat the current unclear situation in Belgium regarding loot boxes and other in-game revenue models. We do not by any means stipulate that Tanki Online is a gambling service. This letter is sent without prejudice to APL Publishing's rights, all of which are expressly reserved." Towards a single player, the rules stand clear. Then again, they've been violating gambling rules of 2 countries for an excessive time, making TO a violator. I answered on this mail 4 days ago already, but they fail to respond so far. I've shortly resent my answer. Hope they'll quickly respond.

I don't know about the Dutch law, but the Belgian law defines both as gambling, whether you're able to trade the product or not. The way you got the product is what counts in the Belgian law. "Games of chance are all activities that combine a direct or indirect payment by the player with the chance to win or lose something insofar that this chance depends, even partially, on coincidence." "The Law of May 7, 1999 on games of chance, bets, gaming establishments and the protection of players, as amended by the law of 10 January, 2010 (Wet van 7 mei 1999 op de kansspelen, de weddenschappen, de kansspelinrichtingen en de bescherming van de spelers,as amended by the two laws of January 10, 2010), explicitly states that all games of chance and bets and the exploitation of gaming establishments are prohibited unless they are licensed by the Kansspelcommissie. Offering these unlicensed games is prohibited, but it is also prohibited to promote them, and to participate in them, if you are aware of their unlicensed nature." Therefore TO has been violating the Belgian law for quite some time already. Concerning FIFA, a game I am still able to play as a Belgian: "The Belgian federal Minister of Justice Koen Geens is pleased that videogame publisher EA Games has stated that it will remove the paying loot boxes in the game FIFA and that it will comply with the Belgian gambling legislation, and thus follow the position of the Belgian Gaming Commission. The Gaming Commission submitted this file to the Crown prosecutor’s office of Brussels in 2018. Earlier, other international publishers such as Activision Blizzard, Valve and 2K also complied at request of the Gaming Commission. At the request of Minister Koen Geens, the Gaming Commission investigated various video games, including FIFA from publisher EA Games. The conclusion this investigation, as mentioned in the report of the Belgian Gaming Commission released in April 2018, was that a paying loot box meets the definition of a game of chance. According to the Belgian Gaming Commission, paying loot boxes must therefore be regarded as a form of gambling under Belgian law. The loot boxes are, according to the Gaming Commission, subject to the Belgian rules on gambling and betting. Shortly after the completion of the investigation, the Gaming Commission reached an agreement with publishers Activision-Blizzard, Valve and 2K. Now EA Games also declares to comply with the Belgian legislation, an important step in the protection of especially young and vulnerable players against unexpected gambling elements and influences. Minister of Justice Koen Geens: Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for mental health. We have already taken numerous measures to protect minors as well as adults against the influence of, for example, gambling advertising. That is why we must also ensure that children and adults are not confronted with games of chance when they seek pleasure in a video game. I am therefore very pleased that publishers of the investigated video games have already complied with Belgian legislation or are planning to do so very soon and thus put the player's well-being first."

I'm sure they haven't heard of TO yet. They're busy with practices of gambling exposure to minors tho. I'm even willing to contact the right Belgian authorities who fight such practices, just to inform myself and for my own interest. It's an interesting case.

I'm over 18 too, hence I'm free to gamble whenever I want, though intelligent enough not to. I'm not counting on a compensation. I have stopped playing the game more than 5 years ago and have no interest in rejoining. There's many way better games to spend some free time on. On the other hand, TO has had enough time to find or create a solution for Belgian/Dutch players. They didn't tho. And I find it interesting how the game managers will handle this. Simply kicking players from the game while they've spent money to it while TO has had time to find solutions is mind-blowing in a negative way. I wonder what both countries governments think of such practices.

So far my next mail to Tech Support remains unanswered while the previous one was answered within 5 minutes exactly. If I'm not getting an answer by tomorrow evening, I'll resend my mail. And I agree on not spending money on a VPN just to play a game.

So here is the first answer: "Hello, Unfortunately the compensation is not provided in this case." Well, unjustice must be fought I guess.

Zal ik doen. ?

Ondanks ik het spel niet meer speel, ga ik toch eens een bericht sturen naar tech support van TO.

Will update you if anything happens, be it positive or negative. My mail to Tech Support has been sent.

Thanks. I sure will. I'd also like an answer from our CM since he hasn't said anything close to it on the last stream.

Thanks. Only back for this issue though. ? Highly doubt it either. Though it'd be a fair thing to do when a game kicks players from a country. Then again it's TO, a game that doesn't even mind promoting gambling.

Op de één of andere manier krijg ik nog steeds mails wanneer iemand in dit topic reageert. En plots zie ik dat men TO in NL/BE niet meer gaat ondersteunen?

Would be cool if we get compensated financially since players have spent money to the game, which is lost now.