International brands work through local licenses

Belgium is an online jurisdiction "closed" in terms of entry: the principle of "online follows offline" applies here. This means that an international operator cannot simply get a direct. be-license from scratch. It enters the market through a bundle with local rights: a basic ground license and an appropriate plus license for online - A + (online casino), B + (online slots) or F1 + (online betting). As a result, global brands are present in Belgium as locally licensed. be-operators or in the format of partnerships with holders of Belgian rights.

Why it is impossible without a local license

1. Access model. Online rights are issued only to those who already own a ground license of the corresponding class (A/B/F1), or through a structured partnership with such a copyright holder.

2. Player protection. EPIS unified self-exclusion system, age thresholds (21 + for casinos/slots; 18 + for bets and lotteries) and mandatory KYC/AML verification require full local integration.

3. Quality control. Certification of games and platforms, reporting on GGR and events, logging and security - it is easier and more reliable to control when the operator works in a local legal framework.

How international brands are'landing' in Belgium

1) Offline License Partner

The most common path: a global brand is merged with a Belgian operator that has a basic A/B/F1 license. The partner provides a "legal anchor" and local expertise, the international side - technology, product and marketing expertise. At the front, the player sees. be site under a recognizable brand, and the Belgian licensee is legally responsible.

2) Joint Venture (JV) or Contract Management (MSA)

Sometimes a joint venture is created with the separation of roles:

Local unit: compliance with BGC, EPIS, payment gateways, support service at FR/NL/EN, financial reporting.
Global block: content providers, risk and trading for bets, BI, CRM/gamification, anti-fraud.

3) White-label/brand-licensing

The local licensee remains the "recording operator," but the front-line brand and UX are international. The agreement strictly prescribes RG control, data, reporting, marketing limits and liability for violations.

Which is a must for everyone. be-operators (including international brands)

EPIS and KYC/AML: check-in and pre-game status; full KYC before deposits and rates.

Default weekly limit: €200 per player and per site; attempt to increase - only after additional checks of solvency.

Age thresholds: 21 + (casino/slots), 18 + (betting/lotteries).

Certification and integrity: independent RNG/game certifications, transparent RTP, immutable event logs.

Security: secure hosting, encryption, backup, access audit.

Communications and advertising: highly restricted formats; sports sponsorship and online advertising - within strict limits or with prohibitions.

Blocking illegal immigrants: work only in the legal perimeter; offshore domains are taboo for Belgian users.

Roles and Responsibilities in the Partner Model

Local licensee: permit holder, ultimate legal liability, contact with the regulator, local compliance, reporting, EPIS/KYC processes.

International brand: UX, content, trading/risk (for betting), CRM/marketing (within Belgian rules), analytics, technology support.

Joint zones: RG policies, anti-fraud, financial monitoring, incident management, data protection.

What does it give players and the market

To players

Familiar product level (content, UX, mobile applications) from global brands.

Local protection guarantees: EPIS, limits, clear complaint procedure, support for FR/NL/EN.

Transparent payments and rules: certified games, understandable history of operations.

To the regulator and the state

Managed number of operators, high reporting discipline.

Less "gray" advertising and offshore, more efficient tax collection.

The ability to quickly implement RG initiatives through local rights holders.

To business

Clear entry rules and a predictable economy when requirements are met.

Synergy of offline reputation and online scale of global brand.

Payments, data, localization

Payment methods: bank cards, Bancontact/Payconiq, bank transfers; limits and transaction monitoring are built in.

Data and reporting: storage of logs, unloading by turnover/payments, RG events; regulator access to logs.

Localization: content in French and Dutch (often English), local tournaments/promotions within the permitted formats.

Typical mistakes of international players and how to avoid them

1. Underestimating RG and marketing. In Belgium, advertising and incentives are extremely limited: adapt CRM, bonus policy and visual communication in advance.

2. Late EPIS/KYC integration. Technical integrations are laid in the architecture from the first day: fault tolerance, audit, unchangeable logs.

3. The SLA with the partner is too common. Write down the details: who is responsible for anti-fraud/trading, who is responsible for security incidents, reporting deadlines and RG escalation.

4. Opaque content showcase. For. be clear marking of RTP/rules, filters by providers and mechanics are important.

Who is the Belgian model right for

Global brands with strong technology, ready to work "according to the rules of the salon": without aggressive advertising, with an emphasis on RG and quality of service.

Local rights holders who want to strengthen the digital portfolio while maintaining control and responsibility in the country.

Bottom line: international brands in Belgium operate only through local licenses and a combination of offline rights. This plus-license system (A +/B +/F1 +) provides a high level of player protection, predictability for the regulator and gives the market the best of two worlds: a global product with strict local control.