Taxation of operators

The Belgian tax model combines a regional "gambling" tax with corporate income tax and special VAT rules. For online operators, the benchmark is the gross gaming income tax (GGR), and for land-based casinos, separate progressive scales. Below is the current picture for October 26, 2025.

1) Online operators: base bar 11% GGR

For distance games and bets, there is a single approach based on "actual margin" (GGR = bets minus winnings paid). The official materials of the Gambling Commission indicate that a preferential rate of 11% is applied ~ operators of the online segment.

Regional competence (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) allows you to set bets on online games/bets; in practice, a benchmark of 11% of the country's actual margin is confirmed.

2) Where "15%" appears

A number of sources and practical explanations for betting rates include a 15% rate on betting income (margin-based), which is used as a flat rate for betting operators in some regions/cases. This explains the "fork" of 11-15% in public guides and FAQs for business.

3) Land casinos and machines: individual progressions

For classic casinos, there are increased progressive bets on GGR: benchmarks - 33% and 44% for exceeding certain thresholds, and for "technical games" (machines) - 20-50% in steps. Alternative reviews also give an alignment of 30% (live games )/35% (technical games) as average benchmarks by segment. These rules apply to the offline sector and explain why online 11% looks "preferential" against the background of the ground.

4) Corporation tax (CIT) and accounting layer

Profits of Belgian companies, including gambling operators, are subject to CIT at a rate of 25% (with standard clauses/benefits for SMEs, etc.). This is separate from the GGR tax and is considered after operating expenses, depreciation, deductions, etc.

5) VAT: special treatment since 2016

Since July 1, 2016, Belgium has abolished the VAT exemption for online gambling (except online lotteries), while offline games and lotteries have retained the exemption. For operators, this means the need to correctly qualify operations and build VAT accounting in the online part of the business.

How it stacks up in the operator's P&L

• Online gaming/betting: ~ 11% GGR by country as baseline; up to 15% - for individual rate cases/regions.

• After operating expenses and GGR tax - CIT 25% on taxable income.

• Online operations (except online lotteries) - VAT obligations since 2016; offline more often remains in release.

Practical conclusions for the strategy

Unit economics is online. When planning margins, consider "double taxation" by layer (GGR tax + CIT) and the possible VAT effect online.

Vertical and region. In betting, keep a fork of 11-15% and regional differences in mind. This affects the choice of product matrix (pools vs. fixed markets, live margin, limits).

Offline vs online. Progressions for casinos/machines make the offline sector significantly "harder" tax than online. This confirms why Belgian policy positions 11% online as "more favorable" for the controlled growth of the licensed segment.

Bottom line: for online operators in Belgium, the benchmark is ~ 11% GGR, while cases up to 15% are possible at rates. Further, 25% CIT and special VAT rules for online (since 2016) are superimposed on top. Such a composition makes the market predictable, but requires a neat financial model, taking into account the vertical and region.