Belgium Online Casinos: How Strict BGC Licensing Works

Belgium has one of the most strictly regulated online gambling markets in Europe. In fact, the country limits the number of online licenses by law and enforces very strict rules. Belgium is the only jurisdiction that has classified loot boxes as games of chance. Next, we’ll explain how the Belgian Gaming Commission regulates this industry.

• The Belgian Gaming Commission at a Glance
• Strict Licensing: Why So Few Operators Hold a Belgian License
• What Happened with Loot Boxes?
• The Illegal Operator Blacklist and the 2023-2024 Reforms
• Player Protection
• The Bottom Line
• How We Verified This

The Belgian Gaming Commission at a Glance

The Belgian Gaming Commission is the federal body that grants licenses and oversees gambling in accordance with the law of May 7, 1999. However, this is where things change, as the law was substantially amended in 2024. The Commission advises the government, grants and revokes licenses, and ensures compliance with the law. Adelina Paraschiv, the editor of this article, has verified the figures below and prepared a table with the most important information:

Strict Licensing: Why So Few Operators Hold a Belgian License

In Belgium online casinos cannot obtain a license without meeting certain conditions. Therefore, to apply for an online license, they must already hold a license for operations conducted at a physical location. There is Category A for casinos, Category B for gaming halls, and Category F1 for betting. Only then can they apply for the corresponding online license.

You should know that the number of licenses is also limited by law for each category. This isn’t an open system where any operator that meets the conditions can enter the market. Not at all! For online casinos, the limit is easier to see. The law allows for a maximum of 9 A+ licenses, corresponding to the 9 land-based casinos in Belgium. From what we’ve seen, all 9 casino licenses are already taken.

That leaves the other categories, right? Here, there’s a limit of 30 F1+ licenses for sports betting and 180 B+ licenses for online gaming sites. We can see that this system keeps the number of authorized Belgium online casino operators low, even though six years ago, gross revenues from online gambling surpassed those from land-based gaming halls.

What Happened with Loot Boxes?

The Belgian Gaming Commission concluded that loot boxes purchased with real money which offer random virtual items in the real world also fall under the category of gambling. This investigation focused on games such as Star Wars Battlefront 2, FIFA 18, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike.

Companies have begun to respond but not all at the same time. We’ve seen that Blizzard was the first to take these measures. In 2018, it disabled the ability for players in Belgium to purchase loot boxes with real money in Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm. However, players could still obtain the same items by playing the game. Valve blocked users with Steam accounts in Belgium and the Netherlands from opening cases in CSGO, though they could still be received and traded.

A Lawsuit Against Apple

I noticed that last year the Avers Business Tribunal reviewed a lawsuit against Apple specifically regarding the purchase of loot boxes through the App Store. The case was referred to a higher court, but no clear ruling was issued. The case never reached a European ruling, Apple reached a settlement, and the complaint was withdrawn.

The Illegal Operator Blacklist and the 2023-2024 Reforms

The Belgian Gaming Commission provides a blacklist of websites that offer gambling without a license. All internet service providers are required to block access to the domains included on this list. Did you know that the Brussels Commercial Court can also issue orders requiring illegal operators to cease their activities? And not just them! Their intermediaries as well. So these measures can also target internet service providers. If they fail to comply with these orders, they risk fines of up to 500.000 euros.

Belgium has tightened the rules for licensed operators. The first phase targeted gambling advertising on television, radio, and in print media. The restrictions were introduced gradually, one by one, with sports sponsorships set to be phased out by 2028.

The second phase was introduced by the Law of February 18, 2024, which imposed new restrictions. Licensed casinos can no longer offer bonuses, credit card payments have been banned, and each gaming product must operate on its own domain. You must be at least 21 years old to participate in gambling.

Player Protection

Player protection relies primarily on EPIS, the national registry of individuals excluded from gambling. It has been administere by the Belgian Gaming Commission since 2004. Every licensed operator is required to check this registry before allowing you to play for real money.

You can request to self-exclude yourself. We found information suggesting that these checks have been extended to certain bookmakers, but we were unable to verify this through reliable sources so we decided not to include this information.

Online casinos are required to offer players the option to temporarily self-exclude and to display warning messages during gameplay. This helps raise awareness of the risks associated with gambling.

The Bottom Line

We can see that Belgium prefers to have a smaller number of operators, but ones that are closely monitored. It’s not a large market with many competitors. For you, as a player, this means fewer licensed gambling platforms a lack of bonuses, and a ban on funding your account with a credit card. Analysts at CasinoAlpha believe that Belgium prioritizes consumer protection. However, this means limiting the markets growth. We’ve also observed weaknesses in the enforcement of these rules a fact that has even been acknowledged by the commission.

How We Verified This

Our team at CasinoAlpha has verified the information from multiple sources and compared the oficial licensing framework of the Belgian Gaming Commission with the relevant legislation. We analyzed the Gambling Act of May 7, 1999, the amendments made in 2024, and reviewed the most recent information regarding the decree on advertising.

As we always tell you, gambling involves financial risks. Do you feel like it’s causing you problems? Or do you know someone who is facing such problems? We have resources that can offer you help and beyond that, there are national self-exclusion registries and helplines. As we always do, we encourage you not to spend more than you can afford!

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.