Online gambling is allowed since 2011

Belgium legalised online gambling in 2011, supplementing the basic Gambling Act 1999 and introducing an "online follows offline" model. From this point on, remote products (online casinos, slots, bets) are allowed only for those companies that already have an appropriate ground license and receive a "plus-extension" for it online.

What exactly was allowed in 2011

A + - online casinos (tables, poker and other casino games) for land license holders A (casino).

B + - online gaming products (slots, etc.) for land license holders B (machine rooms).

F1 + - online bets for F1 license holders (betting organizer).

This binding limits the "bloating" of the online market and facilitates control by the regulator Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC).

Key access rules and thresholds

Age: 21 + for casinos/slots (A + and B +), 18 + for bets (F1 +) and lotteries.

Identification and security: KYC/AML checks, data protection, traffic encryption, RNG certified and reporting are required before the game.

EPIS: uniform system of player exclusion (self-exclusion and other grounds). Any attempt to enter/play is checked by EPIS - the tolerance is blocked automatically.

How licensing works

1. Basic offline license (A, B or F1) - the right to operate a casino, vending room or betting business in a ground format.

2. Plus-license (A +, B +, F1 +) - the right to offer the corresponding product online.

3. Set of responsibilities: technical certification of platforms, reports on turnover/payments, storage of logs, integration with EPIS, responsible play tools (deposit/expense limits, timeouts, "self-cooling").

Advertising and liability

Online marketing in Belgium is allowed only for licensed operators and is subject to strict restrictions on formats, audiences and risk warnings. Any unlicensed sites are considered illegal; domain/payment locks and fines are applied, up to criminal procedures in serious cases.

How the market changed after 2011 (short chronology)

2011-2015: launch of "plus-licenses," formation of a pool of legal operators, setting up EPIS and tech-control.

2016-2020: tightening requirements for KYC/AML, combating offshore domains, gradually strengthening the share of licensed online.

2021-2025: stricter advertising policies (especially in digital channels and sports), development of risk analytics and automation of reporting, market consolidation around players with a strong offline base.

What it means for players

Legal online casinos and bets are available, subject to age thresholds.

Built-in protection: EPIS, limits, transparent game statistics, clear payment rules.

It is recommended to choose sites with Belgian licenses A +/B +/F1 + - this is a guarantee of legal protection and fair play.

What it means for business

Market entry is possible through offline footprint and high compliance standards.

Continuous technical certification, integration with EPIS, strict reporting and "ethical" marketing are needed.

Operators combining a strong local offline ecosystem and mature RG/KYC processes gain a competitive advantage.

Conclusion: since 2011, Belgium has allowed online gambling, but only in conjunction with land licenses. This model provides managed growth, a high level of player protection and predictable rules of the game for bona fide operators.