Belgium's legal gambling market experienced its first annual decline since 2020 in 2024. The latest data shows that total gambling revenue reached 1.61 billion euros, down 4.86% from 1.69 billion euros in 2023. This contraction marks the end of several years of expansion following the pandemic, with the downward trend appearing in both online and offline channels. Although online gambling still dominates, nearly all regulated areas have recorded declines. Honestly, the effects of this round of regulatory tightening have come faster and more fiercely than many had anticipated.
Overall Decline: Both Online and Offline Feel the Chill
Online gambling continues to contribute the majority of revenue, amounting to 919.1 million euros, accounting for 57.1% of total GGR. Even so, this segment has decreased by 2.7% year-on-year. The decline in physical channels is more pronounced, with traditional venue revenues falling 7.59% to 690.41 million euros, reflecting the ongoing difficulties in retail business. Betting shops and traditional venues are particularly affected, with offline betting revenue down 13.58%, and betting shop revenues nearly falling by 18%. Meanwhile, the number of licensed betting shops has sharply decreased from 535 to 408 within two years, directly impacting the overall performance of physical channels.
Segment Divergence: Casinos Grow Against the Trend, Betting Shops Sharply Reduce
It is noteworthy that not all segments are declining. Casino business (including online and offline) instead recorded a growth of 7.32%, reaching 638.45 million euros. Online casinos account for about three-quarters of this segment, with both online and physical casino revenues increasing. However, other areas have seen significant declines: arcade license revenue fell 11.95% to 384.75 million euros, with online arcade activities dropping more than 23%; low-stake game revenues decreased by 21.71% to 220 million euros; café bingo games plummeted by 24.7%. The total GGR of sports betting fell by 6.59% to 364.3 million euros, mainly dragged down by offline channels, with online betting only slightly decreasing by 2.11%. Even major sports events during the year could not reverse this trend.
Regulatory "Combo" and Concerns About the Black Market
The market downturn in 2024 is closely related to a series of regulatory measures introduced since 2023. Authorities have uniformly raised the minimum gambling age to 21, introduced restrictions on bonuses and promotional incentives, and tightened advertising rules. Operators now must segregate products by license type, prohibiting hosting multiple gambling categories on the same platform. Advertising restrictions are particularly significant, with visibility restrictions (including various forms of promotion bans) reducing the exposure of licensed operators. Investigations into celebrity endorsement activities further highlight the regulatory focus of the authorities. These policies aim to enhance player protection, but industry data indicate they also reduce the overall activity of the legal market.
Meanwhile, concerns about players shifting to unregulated platforms are intensifying. Studies indicate that the use of offshore sites has increased following the tightening of advertising rules. Reports show that the number of online players using illegal sites has increased, and the deposit levels on these platforms are higher. Unlicensed operators now occupy a significant share of traffic on popular gambling websites. Young players seem particularly vulnerable, with a large portion of male gamblers aged 18 to 21 reported to be using illegal sites that do not enforce Belgian restrictions. Authorities have taken steps, cooperating with domain registration authorities to block unauthorized sites and redirect users to official warning pages, but the long-term effects of these measures are still being assessed. For more global gambling market dynamics, continue to follow PASA official website.
————
This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Gambling original depth channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
