Online Gambling in Belgium
Overview
Belgium’s online gambling regulatory environment has evolved significantly over the past two decades.
The Gambling Act of 1999 primarily focused on land-based gambling and contained no provisions dealing specifically with internet casinos or sports betting sites. In the absence of regulation the Belgium online gambling market consisted largely of unlicensed operators through the early 2000’s.
To address this and recognising the need to regulate the growing iGaming market, Belgium introduced amendments to the Gambling Act in 2010, which came into effect in 2011.
These amendments created a comprehensive framework for licensing and regulating online gambling, establishing the Belgian Gaming Commission or Kansspelcommissie (BGC) as the regulatory authority.
In the years since the BGC has taken a hardline stance against unlicensed operators compiling a list of domains it deems to be unlawfully accepting Belgian player registrations, referred to as the ‘egames blacklist’ at their website. ISP’s in Belgium are required to attempt and block local access to sites on the blacklist.
Meanwhile, locally licensed live dealer operations have slowly gained a foothold.
In 2013 Belgian-licensed Unibet introduced a new live roulette table specifically for players from Belgium (powered by Evolution) and staffed by Belgium native and Flemish speaking dealers. In 2015 Evolution launched a live dealer studio located within the Casino de Spa in Belgium. Belgium A-classed license holders including Unibet and Bwin now offer their players these games/tables.
Current Regulations
The Belgian online gambling market is regulated under the amended Gambling Act of 1999, with the BGC overseeing compliance. Key aspects of the current regulations include:
- Licensing: Operators wishing to offer online gambling services in Belgium must obtain a license from the BGC. There are several types of licenses available, corresponding to different types of gambling activities (e.g., A+ for online casinos with live dealer games included, F1+ for online sports betting). Only operators with a physical presence in Belgium (through a partnership with a land-based casino or betting shop) can apply for an online license.
- Player Protection: The regulations emphasise robust player protection measures, including self-exclusion options, deposit limits, and time limits. Operators are required to provide access to support for problem gambling and must monitor players for signs of gambling addiction.
- Advertising Standards: Advertising of gambling services is strictly regulated to prevent targeting minors and vulnerable individuals. All marketing materials must include responsible gambling messages, and there are restrictions on the timing and placement of advertisements.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML): Operators must comply with AML regulations, conducting thorough customer due diligence (KYC checks) and monitoring transactions for suspicious activity. They must report any suspicious transactions to the Financial Intelligence Processing Unit (CTIF-CFI).
Major Operators
Flemish Roulette with Belgian Croupiers @Bwin
The Belgian online gambling market features a mix of domestic and international operators, most notably:
- Unibet: Part of the Kindred Group, Unibet offers a wide range of online gambling services, including sports betting, casino games, and poker. It operates in Belgium under a partnership with a licensed land-based casino.
- Betway: Betway provides sports betting, casino games, and esports betting to Belgian players. It operates through a partnership with the Belgian land-based casino, Casino de Namur.
- Bwin: A major global player, Bwin offers sports betting, poker, and casino games in Belgium. It operates under a license obtained through its partnership with a local casino.
- Napoleon Games: A domestic operator, Napoleon Games offers a wide range of online gambling services, including sports betting, casino games, and poker. It is one of the leading Belgian operators with a strong local presence.
- Golden Palace: Another prominent domestic operator, Golden Palace provides online casino games, sports betting, and poker. It is well-known in Belgium and operates numerous land-based betting shops and casinos.
Best live casinos for Belgian players
Online casinos offering live dealers and services tailored to the Belgium market include:
