Crypto Casino
Torrent Gear
Online betting in Belgium through BGC licenses: rules, responsibilities and technical standards
Belgium is one of the "strictest and most understandable" online betting markets in the EU. The regulation is carried out by the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC), and the key to legal work on the Internet is a bunch of online licenses and offline presence. For the player, this means a proven environment, strict protection standards and transparent risk control mechanics; for the operator - a high entry threshold and constant compliance.
Licence card: What it takes to bet online
F1 (bookmaker) - a basic license for accepting bets (usually offline).
F1 + (online bookmaker) - an extension to F1, gives the right to accept bets on the Internet. Online without offline is impossible: the operator must be tied to a ground license/partner.
In adjacent verticals: A/A + (casino/online casino) and B/B + (gaming salons/online), but for sports β etting the key link is F1 → F1 +.
Additionally: F2 (betting points), E (equipment/software), G (media games), etc. - according to the specifics of the business.
Bottom line: a legitimate online book in Belgium is F1 +, tied to the current F1 and meeting the technical, financial and responsible standards of the BGC.
Operator path: from request to launch
1. Legal entity and ownership structure. Transparent beneficiaries, no sanctions/conflict risks.
2. Offline support. Own F1 or partnership with F1 holder; contracts and responsibility sharing scheme.
3. Technical design. Platform, risk management, anti-fraud, logging, reporting, hosting, fault tolerance/DR plans.
4. Financial sustainability. Capital/reserves, payment providers, protection of client funds.
5. RG/AML policies. Default limits, self-exclusion procedures, KYC/EDD, transaction monitoring, staff training.
6. Approval and control. Pre-startup checks, regular audits, inspections, technical updates as requested by BGC.
What the player sees: basic rules and expectations
Age: bets strictly from 18 + (casino - 21 +).
KYC before the game: verification of identity (eID/itsme), address and age before access to deposits/bets.
EPIS: centralized self-exclusion registry; entering EPIS blocks entry to all licensed products.
Deposit limits: default weekly limit with the possibility of adjustment after solvency checks; instantaneous decrease - immediately, increase - only after verification/pause.
Payments: cards/instant methods, e-wallets - without credit cards (ban on using a credit card for gambling).
Critical tips: time/expense counters, pause reminders, help links, self-diagnosis tests.
Transparency of rules: clear calculations of rates, margins, cancellations, VAR scenarios, Cash Out - everything is documented.
Advertising, sponsorship and bonuses: a restrained model
Tone and channels: without glorification of "easy money," with visible warnings; time/channel restrictions, youth protection.
Sports sponsorship: permissible within a strict framework; special attention to brand visibility among minors.
Bonuses/promotions: limited in form and communication; priority - transparent conditions, refusal of aggressive involvement mechanics.
Technical requirements: safety and audit
Hosting and data availability: infrastructure in the EU/EEA (or equivalent level of protection) is willing to provide BGC with access to logs and reporting.
Integrations: payments, anti-fraud, data/coefficient providers, identification (itsme/eID).
Logs and storage: event logs, version of the rules at the time of the bet, traces of coefficient changes, reports on sessions.
DR/BCP: backup, RTO/RPO, recovery tests, DDoS/WAF monitoring.
Periodic checks: external information security audit, penetration tests, certification of RNG/modules, control over the correctness of calculations.
Taxes and payment flows (in general terms)
Gambling tax and corporate load vary by product type and region; The online operator plans P&L taking into account margins, RG restrictions and advertising limits.
Accounting for client funds: segregation, transparent returns, cancellation and error policies.
Enforcement: How BGC protects the market
De-listing unlicensed domains and blocking payment channels.
Penalties for violating RG/AML/advertising rules.
Communications for players: public lists of allowed/prohibited sites, explanation of the risks of "gray" platforms.
Selection practice for player (not financial council)
1. Check. be and mention of F1 + on the site (license number, owner, support contacts).
2. Set limits right away: deposit/time/pauses - "hygiene" of the game.
3. Read the rules for Cash Out and calculating non-standard events (VAR, transfers, technical victories).
4. Explore the center of responsibility: EPIS, links to help, ways to quickly self-lock.
Frequent questions
Can I play without KYC? No, identity verification is mandatory before accessing deposits/rates.
Why can't I top up with a credit card? In Belgium, credit cards for gambling are prohibited - a measure to reduce the debt burden.
Are foreign sites allowed? Only if they have a Belgian licence/link to F1 and meet BGC requirements.
What happens with self-exclusion? Access to all licensed operators is closed until the end of the selected term/decision to withdraw from EPIS.
Looking ahead
More "default responsibility." Personal limits, proactive warnings, soft UX barriers.
Transparent analytics for players. Margin/probability explanation and variance visualization right in the interface.
Technical convergence. Single accounts, secure payments, even closer integration with government identifiers.
Online betting in Belgium is F1 + over F1, a constant compliance and responsible gaming culture. The player receives a protected environment with understandable limits and support; operator - predictable rules and a high standard of technical safety. It is this combination that makes the Belgian market sustainable and "adult": excitement - as part of leisure, and not a way to earn money.