Belgium operates under a strictly regulated gambling environment overseen by the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC). Casinos are legally classified as "Class I" establishments, requiring a specific Class A license to operate.
1. Regulatory Framework
The legal landscape for Belgian gambling is governed by several key pieces of legislation and royal decrees:
Gambling Law: The primary legislation is the Gambling Law of May 7, 1999. This is complemented by the National Lottery Law of April 19, 2002.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML): Operators must adhere to the Anti-Money Laundering Law of September 18, 2017, which aligns with EU standards to prevent financial crimes.
Data Protection: Privacy is governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Law of July 30, 2018.
Advertising: Marketing is strictly controlled by the Code of Economic Law (2013), the Royal Decree of October 25, 2018, and the Royal Decree of February 27, 2023, which introduced significant new restrictions on gambling advertisements.
2. Licensing and Market Entry
Under the Belgian Gambling Law, the market is highly restricted to prevent over-proliferation.
Quota Limits: The number of Class A licenses is legally capped at nine.
Geographic Distribution: These nine licenses are distributed across the country’s three regions:
Flanders (4): Blankenberge, Knokke, Middelkerke, and Ostend.
Wallonia (4): Chaudfontaine, Dinant, Namur, and Spa.
Brussels-Capital (1): One central casino.
Availability: Currently, all nine licenses are issued. The BGC is not accepting new applications until a current license expires or is revoked.
Validity: A Class A license is granted for a renewable period of 15 years.
Financial Requirements
Guarantee Fee: Applicants must pay a deposit/guarantee of $250,000 before obtaining a Class A license.
Annual Fee: Operators pay an annual fee for the BGC's operational costs. As of 2024, this fee is set at $22,085.
3. Permitted Games and Player Credit
Casinos are authorized to offer both table games and automatic (slot) machines.
Table Games: Includes Baccarat, Big Wheel, Blackjack, Poker, Chemin de Fer, Craps, Punto Banco, Roulette, Sic Bo, and Bingo.
Poker: Strictly limited to licensed land-based and online casinos (with exceptions for low-stake private card games).
Credit Restrictions: Under Article 58, it is prohibited to allow players any form of loan or credit for the purpose of paying for a stake or a loss. The use of standard debit and credit cards is permitted.
Minimum Age: As of September 1, 2024, the minimum age for all forms of gambling in Belgium, including land-based and online casinos, has been increased to 21 years.
4. Regional Taxation Framework
Casino taxes in Belgium are set at a regional level:
| Region | Tax Category | Rate / Structure |
| Flanders | General Casino Games | 33% on daily revenue below €865k; 44% above that. |
| Wallonia | Slot Machines | Between 20% and 50% of GGR. |
| Other Games | 33% on GGR up to €1.36m; 44% above that. | |
| Brussels | Wagers | 15% of the gross amount of all sums wagered. |
| Card/Dice/Domino | 11% of actual gross margin. | |
| Other Games | 33% on GGR up to €1.36m; 44% above that. |
Taxation of Winnings: Players' winnings are generally tax-exempt, unless the player is participating in a professional capacity (e.g., professional poker players).
5. Relevant Authorities and Contacts
Gambling Regulator
Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC)
Tel: (+32) 02 504 00 40
Email: info@gamingcommission.be (link to contact form)
AML Regulators
Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC)
Tel: (+32) 02 504 00 40
Email: info@gamingcommission.be
Financial Intelligence Processing Unit (CTIF-CFI)
Email: info@ctif.cfi.be
Data Protection Authority
Data Protection Authority (DPA)
Tel: (+32) 02 274 48 00
Email: contact@apd-gba.be
Advertising Authorities
Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC)
Email: info@gamingcommission.be
Jury for Ethical Advertising Practices (JEP)
Tel: (+32) 02 502 70 70
Email: info@jep.be
Note: For further information or to report inaccuracies, the European Casino Association can be reached at info@europeancasinoassociation.org.