Online casinos in Belgium

Belgium is a country with a long tradition of gambling, but with one of the most stringent regulatory systems in Europe. Here gambling is completely legal, but available only within strict rules and under state control. Due to its transparent licensing system and high level of player protection, the Belgian iGaming market is considered a model of safe and responsible gambling.

Legislative framework

The basis for regulating the gambling industry is the Gambling Act of May 7, 1999, which established basic license categories and rules for operators.

The law was updated in 2011 to include online gambling, and has since been one of the most balanced in Europe.

Control over the industry is carried out by:

Belgische Kansspelcommissie (BGC) / Commission des Jeux de Hasard (CJH) —
The Belgian Gambling Commission, an independent public body under the Ministry of Justice.

Tasks of the commission:

licensing of online and offline casino operators;
compliance oversight;
fighting addiction and illegal sites;
maintaining a "black list" of prohibited domains;
protecting the rights of players and ensuring the integrity of games.

Licensing system

Belgium uses a unique three-tier license system that combines the online and offline segments:

1. License A - for land-based casinos.

2. License B - for slot machine halls.

3. F1/F2 license - for sports and horse racing betting.

4. License E - for hardware and software vendors.

5. License G1/G2 - for lotteries and bingo.

6. Online license A + or B + - for sites associated with physical casinos or gambling halls.

️ Important:

An online operator in Belgium can only obtain a license if there is a partnership with a land-based casino.
This rule prevents offshore companies from entering without a physical presence in the country.

The license is valid for 15 years, after which an extension is required.

Taxation

Taxes on gambling in Belgium are differentiated depending on the type of activity:

11% of gross revenue (GGR) - for online operators;
15-20% GGR - for land-based casinos;
33% of corporate tax - on the net profit of companies.

Additional licence fees and annual administration fees are charged to the Gambling Commission.

All taxes go to the state budget, partially funding consumer protection and addiction prevention programs.

Online gambling in Belgium

Online gambling was legalized in 2011 and has been strictly controlled since then.

The law only allows sites that are associated with operating land-based casinos and have an A + or B + license.

Among the officially licensed online casinos are:

Casino777. be (Casino de Spa)
Circus. be (Casino de Namur)
Unibet. be
Starcasino. be
GoldenPalace. be
NapoleonGames. be
Betway. be
Bwin. be
Betfirst. be

All of these sites undergo regular audits and are required to provide players with access to self-control tools.

Since 2012, there has been a "black list" of unlicensed sites, access to which is blocked at the level of Internet providers.

Land-based casinos

Belgium has nine official land-based casinos, each operating under a category A licence.

The largest casinos in the country:

Casino de Spa is the oldest casino in Europe (opened in 1763);
Casino Blankenberge is a resort casino on the North Sea coast;
Casino de Namur is a poker tournament center in Benelux;
Casino Knokke, Casino Middelkerke, Casino Oostende - modern complexes with entertainment areas.

These casinos partner with online platforms to create a unified ecosystem between offline and online gambling.

Popular games and destinations

Belgian players prefer a variety of types of gambling.

Most in demand:

video slots and machines (from Pragmatic Play, EGT, Novomatic, NetEnt);
roulette and blackjack in live mode;
poker (especially on Circus. be и Unibet. be);
football and tennis betting;
national lotteries and scratch cards (Loterie Nationale/Nationale Loterij).

More than 70% of players use mobile devices, and the average age of an online casino user is 30-45 years.

Payment methods

The base currency is Euro (EUR).

Only proven payment solutions are available on licensed sites:

Bancontact/Mister Cash - national instant transfer system;
iDEAL (for players from neighboring countries);
Visa, MasterCard;
Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, MuchBetter;
Paysafecard and SEPA bank transfers.

All operators are required to comply with European safety standards (PSD2, AML, GDPR).

Cryptocurrency transactions are prohibited in licensed casinos.

Responsible play and limitations

Belgium is one of the world leaders in player protection.

Main control measures:

mandatory registration and identity verification (ID or eID);
ban on participation to persons under 18 years old (for casinos - 21 years old);
EPIS (Excluded Persons Information System), which unites all casinos in the country;
limits on deposits and losses;
strict advertising control (since 2023, mass advertising of gambling in the media and the Internet is prohibited).

It is also forbidden to use credit cards to replenish accounts in online casinos.

Economic importance

According to the BGC, in 2023 the total turnover of the gambling sector in Belgium amounted to about €1.6 billion, of which:

60% comes from online gambling,
40% - on land casinos and machines.

The industry provides about 5,000 jobs and brings the state €250 million in taxes annually.

The Belgian model demonstrates how tight control, social responsibility, and a profitable economy can be combined.

Challenges and challenges

The main difficulties of the Belgian market:

high tax burden;
difficulties for new operators in obtaining a license;
the growth of illegal offshore casinos;
regulation of crypto and NFT gambling.

Nevertheless, the strict policy of the KSC (BGC) ensures high player confidence and international recognition of the Belgian system as one of the most reliable in Europe.

Development prospects

In the coming years, it is expected:

digitalization of EPIS and integration with the EU system to combat addiction;
development of live games and virtual casinos under the A + license;
the introduction of artificial intelligence to monitor game patterns;
possible creation of a European joint license platform for Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).

Thanks to balanced regulation, a responsible approach and transparency, Belgium has become the standard of the European gambling system - safe, social and technological.