The Belgian online gambling market has continued to grow under a strict regulatory environment in recent years, showing strong development momentum. Despite the implementation of numerous restrictive measures by the government, the industry still achieved significant revenue growth in 2023.
According to a report released by the Belgian gambling regulatory authority CJH, the total gross gambling revenue (GGR) of the Belgian gambling industry in 2023 reached 1.7 billion euros, an increase of 16.7% year-on-year. Among them, online gambling revenue grew particularly significantly, reaching 945 million euros, an increase of 18% year-on-year. Offline gambling revenue also achieved a growth of 15.2%, reaching 758 million euros. The growth in online gambling was mainly due to the strong performance of online casinos and slot machine games.
Online casino revenue grew by 20.2%, reaching 455 million euros, while offline casino revenue grew by 14.3%, reaching 139.9 million euros. Total slot machine game revenue grew by 17.3%, with the online portion growing by 19.4%, reaching 252 million euros, and the offline portion growing by 14.5%, reaching 184.9 million euros. Sports betting revenue grew relatively slowly, with an overall increase of 8.4%, where online sports betting grew by 12.8%, reaching 237.6 million euros, and the offline portion grew by 2.3%, reaching 152.4 million euros.
Regulatory Framework: Stricter Legal and Regulatory Measures
In recent years, the Belgian government has implemented a series of strict regulatory measures on the gambling industry, aimed at enhancing player protection and preventing gambling addiction.
Age Restrictions
From September 1, 2024, the minimum age for participating in all forms of gambling activities is uniformly set at 21 years old, applicable to all types of gambling both online and offline.
Advertising Restrictions
On February 27, 2023, the government issued a new royal decree, strictly limiting the publication of gambling advertisements. Unless explicitly authorized, all forms of gambling advertisements are prohibited, including personalized advertisements and promotional activities. Advertisements must clearly indicate the minimum age for participating in gambling and risk warning information.
Rewards and Promotions Restrictions
New regulations prohibit online and offline operators from offering any form of bonuses, free games, gifts, or other promotional activities, aimed at preventing players from being induced to participate excessively in gambling activities. The only exception is that physical casinos can offer a maximum bonus of 400 euros to each player every two months.
Deposit Restrictions
Since October 2022, the weekly deposit limit for players on each licensed site has been reduced from 500 euros to 200 euros. Players can apply to increase the limit, but must undergo a three-day waiting period and be reviewed by the gambling commission for their credit status.
Account and Platform Separation
According to new regulations in 2024, operators are not allowed to offer different types of gambling services on the same website (such as sports betting and online casino games). Players must create separate accounts for each type of gambling, and funds cannot be transferred between accounts.
Licensing System: Strict Entry Thresholds
The Belgian gambling licensing system adopts an "offline-first" model, meaning that only companies holding a physical operation license can apply for the corresponding online operation license. For example, only companies holding a Class A (physical casino) license can apply for a Class A+ (online casino) license. As of October 2024, the number of A+ class licenses is limited to 9, B+ class (online gaming halls) to 180, and F1+ class (online sports betting) to 30.
Additionally, applicants must be companies registered in the European Union or European Economic Area, submit financial and tax information, and prove that their directors have no criminal records. The application process is strict, aimed at ensuring the compliance and financial robustness of operators.
Anti-Money Laundering and Player Protection Measures
Belgium passed the Anti-Money Laundering Law in 2017 and revised it in 2020 according to the European Union's Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive. This law requires gambling operators to verify the identity of players, monitor suspicious transactions, and cooperate with financial intelligence processing units. For players who bet or withdraw amounts of 2000 euros or more, operators must perform identity verification. Global Practice Guidelines
Furthermore, operators must provide a self-exclusion option, use pop-up windows to remind players of the potential risks of gambling, and prohibit the use of credit cards for online gambling payments to prevent players from incurring excessive debt.
Future Outlook: Seeking Balance Between Regulation and Growth
Despite facing a strict regulatory environment, the Belgian online gambling market still shows strong growth potential. However, continued regulatory tightening may pose challenges to the sustainable development of the market. For example, the advertising ban may limit the acquisition of new players, and the requirements for account and platform separation may affect the user experience.
In order to balance player protection and market development, regulatory authorities may need to further assess the effects of current policies and engage in deeper dialogue with industry stakeholders. Meanwhile, operators also need to strengthen compliance management and enhance user experience to adapt to the changing regulatory environment.
In conclusion, the Belgian online gambling market has achieved significant growth under strict regulation, demonstrating strong market resilience. In the future, how to ensure player protection while promoting healthy industry development will be an important issue facing both regulators and operators.
