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History of gambling in Belgium
Gambling in Belgium developed at the crossroads of the cultures of France, the Netherlands and Germany. The country found an early balance between entertainment and control: the resort halls of Belle Époque set the style, state institutions set the framework of legality, and the digital era - a new format under the same strict supervision.
1) Pre-industrial roots and resort fashion (XVIII-XIX centuries)
Spa is the prototype of a European casino. In the city of the same name, which gave the world the word "spa," already in the 18th century there were game salons at balneological resorts. From these salons grew permanent halls with music, balls and card tables - a cultural prototype for future casinos.
Belle Époque and the coast. In the second half of the 19th century, "game halls" appear in coastal resorts and art cities: Ostend (Kursaal), Knokke-Heist, Namur, as well as in the Spa itself. Atmosphere - orchestra, theater, salon games and moderate bets.
2) XX century: state, lottery and waves of regulation
National Lottery (Nationale Loterij/Loterie Nationale, 1934). It was created as a state instrument of a transparent draw with the direction of funds for socially significant purposes. Lotteries are becoming the "low-risk" face of gambling for the general population.
Post-war decades. Casinos continue to operate in resort centers; requirements for licensing, age permits and financial accounting are increasing.
3) Turning point - Games Act 1999
In 1999, Belgium codified the market: a modern license structure and a single supervisory authority appeared - the Belgian Games Commission (Kansspelcommissie, KSC/Commission des jeux de hasard, CJH).
License classes (simplified):- A - casinos (full-size tables and machines in ground halls);
- B - game salons (limited format machines);
- C - machines in bars/cafes (limited number and type);
- E - production and distribution of gaming equipment;
- F1/F2 - bets (bookmakers and betting points).
Age thresholds: The traditional bar is 21 + for casinos and 18 + for betting and lotteries.
The law enshrined geographical restrictions for casinos, requirements for anti-money laundering control and financial reporting, as well as liability for violation of advertising and age rules.
4) Digitalization: 2010-2011 amendments and online-offline model
With the growth of the Internet, Belgium did not build a parallel online world, but tied an online license to a terrestrial one:- A +/B +/F1 + - "plus" licenses for online casinos, online gambling halls and online bookmakers are issued only to holders of the corresponding offline permits (A/B/F1).
- Requirements include local server/data suitability, KYC/AML procedures, limits, and responsible play tools.
- This is how the "coupling" of offline reputation and online responsibility appeared: who is reliable on the ground can work online.
5) The cultural geography of Belgian gambling
Casino-icons: Casino de Spa, Kursaal Oostende, Grand Casino Knokke - historical venues where play, gastronomy and concerts are combined.
Cities and regions: North Sea coast (Knokke Heist, Ostend), resort Ardennes (Spa), Wallonia and Flanders - each with its own rhythm of events and tourist seasons.
Lottery rituals: national circulations are part of everyday culture: ticket kiosks, collective "pools" and special issues.
6) Responsible play and control
Since the late 2000s, Belgium has consistently strengthened the protection of players:- Self-exclusion registers and blacklists of illegal sites. KSC actively blocks unlicensed domains and publishes "blacklist."
- Checking age and identity when entering the casino and online registration; strict requirements for payment rails and transaction monitoring (AML/CTF).
- Limits and interface. Visible deposit/loss limits, "cooling periods," transparent bonus rules.
7) Advertising and sports in the 2010-2020s: from liberalism to restraint
After the first wave of legalization of online advertising and sports sponsorship gained momentum, especially in football and cycling.
Since the 2020s, the course has gradually shifted to tightening: restrictions on "untargeted" advertising, stricter requirements for the content of creatives, youth protection and discussion of the phasing out of some sports integrations.
The practice of supervision has intensified: fines and prescriptions for violations of advertising, targeting and KYC rules.
8) Industry economics: A "broad base" of revenues
Lotteries produce stable, predictable receipts and "good causes" funding.
Land-based casinos and gaming parlors provide employment and local taxes in tourist areas.
The online segment added uniformity of receipts and better observability of flows (data, reporting, audit), but under strict control.
9) Milestones and time line (short)
XVIII-XIX centuries - Spa resort salons; the formation of a "European" casino image.
1934 - Creation of the National Lottery.
1999 - Modern Gaming Act: KSC and A/B/C/E/F license classes.
2010-2011 - legalization of online according to the A +/B +/F1 + model (through offline licensees).
2020s - increased requirements for advertising, youth protection and the fight against illegal sites.
10) What sets Belgium apart from its neighbours
A bunch of offline ↔ online. Online law is not "from scratch," but a continuation of offline reputation.
Resort historical basis. The treasury card has grown from resorts, not from the capital - this affects seasonality and cultural code.
Tough but pragmatic oversight. The Gaming Commission combines licensing, auditing and active blocking of illegal immigrants.
11) Bottom line: tradition, institutions, digital maturity
The history of gambling in Belgium is an evolution from Spa salons and the coast to the modern digital market, where the National Lottery, KSC and the 1999 licence system set the "skeleton" of the rules. The 2011 amendments made online a legitimate part of the ecosystem, and the 2020s cemented the trend for responsible play and restrained marketing. As a result, Belgium maintains a steady "European" balance: the cultural tradition is yes; innovation - yes; but only in the legal field and with the priority of player safety.