Belgium: gambling regulation and licensing

Belgium licenses online gambling only as an extension of a land-based business, which makes it structurally unlike any other European market. Under the Gaming Act of 7 May 1999, administered by the Belgian Gaming Commission, an online A+, B+ or F1+ licence can be held only by the holder of the corresponding land-based casino, gaming-hall or betting licence. There is no route to an online licence for a business without physical premises in Belgium, so the number of online licences is capped by the number of land-based ones. That tethering has a clear policy logic and a clear commercial consequence. It ensures every online operator has a physical presence and a local licensee accountable in Belgium, and it protects the incumbent land-based sector by making it the gatekeeper. International operators enter by partnering with a Belgian licence holder rather than by applying. Online games and bets are taxed at 11% of gross margin, which is low by European standards and reflects the restricted field. Belgium has also moved hard on player protection, raising the minimum gambling age to 21 and restricting advertising sharply. The combination of a closed licensing structure, a high age limit and tight marketing rules makes it one of Europe's most conservative regimes despite the modest tax rate.

Regulator

Belgian Gaming Commission

Regulator type

Dedicated regulator

Headline tax

11% GGR

Licence required

Yes

Minimum age

21+

Tax base

Online games of chance and bets are taxed at 11% of the actual gross margin (gross gaming revenue). Confirm current rates and any regional variation.

Capital

Brussels

Currency

EUR

Official languages

Dutch, French, German

Licence required

Yes

Application window

Not yet verified

Local establishment required

Yes

Local server required

Not yet verified

Headline GGR tax

11% GGR

Effective date

Not yet verified

Tax base

Online games of chance and bets are taxed at 11% of the actual gross margin (gross gaming revenue). Confirm current rates and any regional variation.

Minimum age

21+

National self-exclusion

Not yet verified

KYC requirements

Not yet verified

Stake limits

Not yet verified

Advertising permitted

No

Affiliate rules

Affiliates are not separately licensed. Promotion of gambling to Belgian consumers falls within the general advertising prohibition, and only licensed operators may be promoted where a carve-out applies.

Sponsorship rules

Sponsorship is being phased out rather than cut off at once. Stadium advertising ended on 1 January 2025, restricted shirt sponsorship runs through the transition on a name-logo-only basis capped at 75 square centimetres, and all sports sponsorship ends on 1 January 2028.

Celebrity and influencer rules

Use of well-known figures, athletes and influencers to promote gambling is prohibited, consistent with the general ban and with the decree aim of removing gambling from everyday visibility.

Social media rules

Advertising on websites and social media is prohibited, with limited exceptions for an operator own channels where a user has actively sought the information.

Bonus advertising rules

Bonus and free-bet promotion is caught by the general prohibition on gambling advertising.

Mandatory warnings

Where a permitted communication is made, responsible-gambling messaging and the age restriction apply. The minimum age for betting and for slot arcades rose to 21 in September 2024.

Penalties for breach

The Kansspelcommissie supervises the regime and can impose administrative fines and licence sanctions, with criminal penalties available under the Gaming Act for the most serious breaches.

Belgium is one of Europe's stricter markets on advertising and player protection. Watch the effect of the age-21 rule and advertising limits on the licensed market, and the tie between online and land-based licences as a structural barrier to entry.

What is the minimum gambling age in Belgium?

Persons under the age of 21 are prohibited from participating in games of chance and bets.

How are online licences structured in Belgium?

Online licences (A+, B+, F1+) are supplementary and can only be held by the holder of the corresponding land-based licence.

1. Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie / Commission des jeux de hasard)

   Belgian Gaming Commission

   Tier 1Accessed 4 Aug 2026
2. Gambling Laws and Regulations 2026 - Belgium

   ICLG (International Comparative Legal Guides)

   Tier 3Accessed 4 Aug 2026
3. Royal Decree on advertising for games of chance

   Kansspelcommissie, Belgian Gaming Commission

   Tier 1Accessed 30 Aug 2026Published 1 Jul 2023