Online Gambling Market in Belgium: Key Features

Entertainment for money boasts an impressive legacy: historians have discovered documents indicating the existence of card games and raffles in Belgium as far back as 1300, and a national lottery as early as the 15th century.

Today, gambling is as popular as ever, although it is more regulated than in the past.

Online Casino Market’s experts will discuss the nuances and advantages of providing amusement services in this jurisdiction.

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Regulatory Framework

iGaming has been legal in the region since 2002, unlike many other European countries, which prohibit all such activities.

The location of the European Union’s headquarters in Belgium puts pressure on the state to maintain a national structure that adheres to the rules of free trade and a competitive market, but this sometimes conflicts with local entrepreneurs' preferred way of doing business.

The government wants to control the organisation and conduct of gambling activities in both online and land-based casinos in order to protect vulnerable players from ludomania.

Belgium has managed to find a balanced solution in this area largely thanks to the 2009 Gambling Act, which grants equal rights to both segments.

For a company to offer iGaming services in the country, it must also obtain a licence to operate land-based establishments. The authorities have set a cap on the number of certificates issued, making it very challenging for other jurisdictions to comply.

However, as the example of bwin.party shows, there are many ways to circumvent these laws. Initially authorised only to operate online, the brand secured another permit by entering into a partnership agreement with the Belgian casino Kursaal Oostende NV.

Of course, some enterprises deliberately ignore these regulations by providing digital services to Belgian residents without the appropriate licence.

To combat this, the local Gambling Commission has begun compiling blacklists of firms, which are then passed on to internet service providers. The penalties for being blocked can be enormous. To date, the largest fine has been approximately €100,000. Belgian residents caught gambling on such sites can pay up to a quarter of that amount.

Although representatives of some companies, including Malta's Bet-at-home, stated that blocking their domain names constituted unlawful data collection, such claims were dismissed, as, first of all, these brands were trying to operate illegally in Belgium.

However, while attempting to comply with European Union regulations and maintain control, the Belgian government found its approach to be at odds with EU requirements.

In 2012, the Financial Times published a collective letter from British bookmakers complaining about the authorities' treatment of bwin’s CEO, Norbert Teufelberger.

They demanded that the European Union supervise the enforcement of its agreement and cease the “intimidation” through the blacklist. However, as mentioned above, bwin already has a licence to operate in Belgium, thus the controversy ended.

Popular Markets

The country’s residents have long been passionate about horse racing, especially trotting. The 2 main hippodromes are located in Mons-Ghlin and Waregem.

Football is also very popular thanks to the national team's recent success. Cycling is another favoured discipline in sports betting, with the country hosting several competitions. Belgian cyclists have won the Tour de France 18 times, ranking 2nd behind France.

The Main Things About the Future of Gambling in Belgium

Thanks to Belgium’s undisputed victory in the Bet-at-home dispute, the jurisdiction has put a clear lid on companies trying to pressure the European Union over its blacklisting of internet service providers.

While the Belgian model is not open, it is certainly not as restrictive or completely state-controlled as those in other European countries. It appears that until the EU challenges the government's position, the local entertainment industry will continue to thrive, and the monopoly will belong to Belgian websites.

Online Casino Market’s experts can help you launch a successful gambling business in this region, whether in a land-based or digital format.

From us, it is also possible to order the following useful solutions:

• a turnkey platform;
• a White Label portal;
• security software;
• popular content, and much more.

For all questions, please contact our managers.

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