Belgium

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What are the gambling laws?

The land of chocolate, beer and the Smurfs, Belgium claims the bragging rights to many world-first laws regulating subjects that other nations still consider controversial, but those pertaining to gambling are not as liberal as we would like them to be. Although games of chance, gaming establishments and wagering are officially legal in the country, efforts to open up the market for international operators started only in the first decade of the new millennium. It is currently possible for foreign online casinos to obtain Belgium gaming licenses, but the requirements and the application process are difficult to complete.

All gambling activities are regulated in Belgium through the Kansspel Commissie. Even though the online sector has been legal since 2002, the legislation was found inadequate with regards to specific executive procedures, and consequently underwent a series of amendments to define games of chance better, wagering and licensing requirements for international operators, as well as to comply with the laws of the European Union more closely.

Licensing, Advertising, Payment Options

Today, the country has an established licensing system based on the Gambling Act of 2011. All companies offering gaming services must be certified and approved by the Government. Three categories of permits are available for both land-based and online operators: casinos, wagering and gaming arcades.

To receive online licenses, companies must be physically located on the Belgian territory, meaning they have to either own or partner with a brick and mortar venue. This, in addition to the limited amount of permits, is one of the main reasons why there are currently only a few outside companies operating legally in the country.

As of 1st June 2019 a new decree is active which affects online gambling and advertising - online casinos are no longer permitted to advertise bonuses to Belgium players. In addition, credit card deposits are no longer possible, however, there are suitable alernatives to consider when wishing to deposit which includes Bancontact (read more info here) and prepaid cards such as Paysafecard, Moneyclic and CASHLib.

Blacklisting and Prohibition

Because the legislation was amended to exert better control of the market and protect consumers, numerous restrictive measures are implemented as well. These affect any institution, organization or individual that in any way supports the services of illegal operators. According to modifications, players, advertisers and Internet providers may also be considered liable for criminal intent and penalized with high fines.

As of 2012, a law is in effect banning all unlicensed gaming sites, as well as financial transactions going to and from these sites and Belgian banks. The Government has compiled a blacklist of prohibited online casinos, which is regularly updated and made available to the public. At the moment, there are over 70 banned gaming sites that have been made known to Internet service providers across Belgium. Players residing here are advised to inspect the list on a regular basis and refrain from real money wagering at any of the included operators.