Online gambling in Belgium and Switzerland: strict rules

Online gambling in Belgium and Switzerland: strict rules (full text)

💡 Status as of October 17, 2025.

1) The big picture

Both countries are highly regulated markets with national licenses, mandatory identification and active enforcement against gray sites. Belgium relies on the Kansspelcommissie/Gaming Commission, Switzerland - on ESBK (federal casino council) and Gespa (lotteries/bets), while domain name block lists and payment locks are widely used online.

2) Belgium: licenses, limits, age

License model

Online admission is tightly linked to offline: only land license holders can receive "plus licenses" for online (A +/B +/F1 +) and offer "games of the same type" as offline. There is also a requirement for "physical connection" to the territory of Belgium.

Player protection and restrictions

EPIS is a national excluded base that applies to all licensed sites and ground halls.

Deposit limit of €200 per week per site by default; can be increased only after checks by the bank/regulator.

Age: from September 1, 2024, the minimum age is 21 + for all types of gambling, including rates; previously 21 + was already in effect for casinos/machines.

Advertising and bonuses: from 2023 there is a de facto ban on "non-targeted" advertising; bonuses/freebets are prohibited from 2020; also introduced a ban on combining different online licenses on the same domain.

What it means in practice

The market is severely "slowed down": strict verification, low deposit limits, little aggressive marketing.

Launching an online casino requires partnership/A/A + status and full compliance with EPIS/limits, as well as separation of verticals by site.

3) Switzerland: "online only with offline"

Legal Framework and Regulators

From January 1, 2019, the Federal Law on Money Gaming Act and the corresponding regulations are in force. Oversight is shared by ESBK (casinos) and Gespa (lotteries/betting).

Licenses and Market Model

Online casinos are only allowed for holders of Swiss land concessions (the "casino tie" model): each online casino operates under the umbrella of a specific federally licensed B&M casino.

Enforcement and self-control

Domain block lists: ESBK and Gespa regularly publish lists to block access to unlicensed sites (required by providers).

Self-exclusion/restrictions: casinos are required to exclude players for signs of problem play and exchange exception data; online operators inherit these mechanisms through a licensing casino. (The general requirement is enshrined in law/supervision.)

Age: participation in casino games is for adults (18 +), while institutions can set higher thresholds for individual halls.

Taxes - General Outline

Casino games are subject to a progressive GGR tax (for terrestrial - high progression; online - own scale with downgrades at the start of projects). Specific rates depend on the type of license and thresholds; the tax is credited to the federal/cantonal funds.

What it means in practice

The market is closed to "clean" online startups: you need a bundle with an existing Swiss casino.

Thanks to block lists, the share of "gray" traffic is lower: as of 2025, lists are regularly growing, closing thousands of domains.

4) Comparison: Where is stricter?

Parameter	Belgium	Switzerland
Key regulator	Kansspelcommissie (BGC)	ESBK (casino) + Gespa (lotteries/betting)
Online admission	Only "plus-licenses" for offline licensees (A +/B +/F1 +)	Only for land-based casinos with a federal concession
Age	21 + for the entire market from 09. 2024	Typically 18 + (casinos may set higher thresholds)
Self-exception	EPIS (single nat. register)	Exclusions mandatory for all casinos/online partners
Advertising/Bonuses	An almost complete ban on "mass" advertising; bonuses banned	Moderate framework with mandatory warnings
Law enforcement	ISP/PSP locks, prohibition to mix online licenses on one site	Domain block lists (ESBK/Gespa), mandatory

5) Checklist for operator

Belgium

1. Get a basic offline license (A/B/F1) or partnership, then A +/B +/F1 + for online.

2. Embed EPIS, limit €200/week. and dividing verticals by site.

3. Marketing - only within strict limits, without bonuses and "gluing" licenses.

Switzerland

1. White-label/partnership strategy with an existing casino and obtaining federal permission.

2. Technical integration for ESBK/Gespa format, readiness for audits and reporting.

3. Accounting for block lists and requirements for player exceptions/restrictions.

6) Memo to player

Check your license. In Belgium - A +/B +/F1 + and EPIS mention; in Switzerland - binding to a specific land casino.

Limits and age. In Belgium, €200/week is valid. by site and 21 + for all games; in Switzerland - 18 + and casino's own limits/self-exclusion.

Watch out. com. In both countries, unlicensed sites end up on block lists; disputes and payouts are not protected.

Belgium and Switzerland are examples of tough but transparent regimes: in Belgium - EPIS, age 21 + and a limit of €200/week, in Switzerland - online casinos only through linking to ground and mandatory block lists. This reduces impulsive play, keeps traffic in the legal field and increases compliance requirements. For the operator, this is a market "about procedure and partnerships," for the player - more protection and predictability.