Online gambling law and regulation in Belgium

Is online gambling permitted?Yes
Licence available for…BettingYes
SportsYes
Card GamesYes
CasinoYes
LotteryNo (monopoly)
Footnotes and Notes

Online licences are only available to operators holding land-based licences. There are three types of licence: A+ (online casino games), B+ (online arcade games) and F1+ (online betting). Online lotteries can only be provided by the national lottery (Loterie Nationale).

As of 1 July 2023, advertising for games of chance will be regulated by the Royal Decree of 27 February 2023. The general rule is that only certain specified forms of advertising are permitted, with any other form of gambling advertising being prohibited.

In addition to the above, the Royal Decree provides for general rules restricting advertising, such as the prohibition on specifically targeting socially vulnerable groups, the prohibition on personalised advertising, as well as the prohibition to represent natural persons/fictional characters and to use their voice. It prohibits a range of abusive advertising, such as encouraging irresponsible and abusive play, suggesting that winning depends on the knowledge of the game or the player’s skills or suggesting that gambling constitutes an alternative to work and savings, a way of getting rich quickly or a solution to financial problems.  Finally, the Royal Decree provides that advertising for gambling must include the minimum age required to participate in the game concerned, as well as a prevention message.

 

Last updated: April 2023

Portrait ofDirk Van Liedekerke
Dirk Van Liedekerke
Partner
Brussels
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Alexis Laes
Associate
Brussels