Belgium Pushes for Reform as Market Activity Expands

Belgium Pushes for Reform as Market Activity Expands

Belgium’s Gambling Commission has renewed its call for long-awaited reforms as participation in both online and land-based gambling continues to rise. The appeal came through the Commission’s 2024 Annual Report, which presents a detailed account of player activity, licensing developments, and enforcement measures across the past year.

The regulator’s president, Magali Clavie, used the report to underscore the urgency of transferring oversight responsibilities from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of the Economy—a move outlined in the government’s policy agreement at the start of 2025. According to Clavie, the shift is essential to equip the Commission with the operational tools needed to navigate a rapidly evolving gambling landscape and to align Belgium’s regulatory practices with those seen elsewhere in Europe.

Clavie described the situation as one requiring immediate attention. After twenty-five years of operation, she said, the Commission’s structure has reached a point where renewal is necessary to meet contemporary challenges. Her comments also reflected frustration over delays in reform implementation, describing the past period as a missed opportunity to modernize oversight and reinforce regulatory coherence.

The Commission’s report places significant emphasis on the dynamics of player engagement. Between 2020 and 2024, Belgium’s regulated market recorded a sharp increase in activity. An average of 155,643 individuals accessed licensed gambling platforms daily in 2024, a rise of over one-third compared with four years earlier. Monthly engagement figures reached 602,288, and new registrations during the year totaled 193,342, reflecting steady growth in online participation.

Land-based venues maintained a smaller footprint, with just under 16,000 daily visitors recorded across physical casinos. This divergence between digital and in-person activity highlights the gradual migration of Belgian gambling towards online channels, a trend consistent with broader European patterns.

In parallel, the Commission’s Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS) continued to play a central role in responsible gambling policy. By the end of 2024, 56,458 individuals were listed in the exclusion register. Roughly one-third had opted to self-exclude, while the remainder were added through debt settlements or legal proceedings. The database included 12,609 female registrants, 38,823 male registrants, and 5,422 individuals who did not specify their gender. The growing number of voluntary exclusions suggests increased awareness among players about self-regulation and access to protective measures.

The licensing landscape in 2024 revealed a steady flow of approvals across multiple categories. Nine Class A casino licences and nine A+ extensions remained active, with Brussels Casino’s authorisation renewed through 2026. The relocation of Middelkerke Casino also received regulatory approval, reflecting ongoing adjustments in the land-based segment. Beyond casinos, the regulator issued 175 B-class licences for automated gaming rooms and 49 B+ licences linked to extended operations. Café-based gambling remained prevalent, with 4,272 active C-class permits, while 8,534 D-class licences were issued to gaming staff and 17,519 E-class permits to equipment suppliers. Belgium closed the year with 408 betting agencies, 28 licensed bookmakers, and 1,281 newsagents authorised to provide gambling services.

The enforcement record painted a picture of persistent challenges in curbing unlicensed activity. In 2024, the Commission investigated 101 unlicensed operators. Communication with several entities proved impossible, and of those contacted, fewer than a third complied with directives to restrict access for Belgian users. Thirty-four operators were blacklisted, and fourteen cases prompted follow-up inquiries. Over the year, 105 illegal websites were blocked, reflecting continued efforts to limit cross-border offerings that operate beyond national authorisation.

The regulator also intervened in the affiliate sector, issuing warnings to six marketing partners over player-targeted advertising practices. Half of the warned affiliates made the necessary revisions, demonstrating partial compliance but leaving room for improvement. The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) has repeatedly voiced concern about unlicensed play, estimating that a quarter of Belgian users still engage with non-authorised websites despite ongoing enforcement.

Financial penalties imposed by the Commission also rose sharply. In total, 133 sanctions were issued during 2024, including 66 fines amounting to €4.6 million, nearly quadruple the figure recorded in the previous year. Twenty-one licences were withdrawn, seven were suspended, and twenty-two formal warnings were issued. Seventeen additional cases were closed without further action after review. The figures indicate a more assertive enforcement stance, suggesting that the regulator is prioritising active deterrence in response to growing digital activity.

The report’s findings collectively portray a sector that is expanding in scale while simultaneously testing the limits of the existing regulatory structure. The Commission’s push for reform reflects a broader concern that without structural change, Belgium risks falling behind its European peers in terms of both operational efficiency and consumer protection. The proposed transition to the Ministry of the Economy could introduce a more coherent approach, integrating gambling oversight with broader market regulation and economic policy.