Belgium Gambling Laws – Can Belgians Wager Legally
Legislators in the country finally came to terms some years ago with the fact gaming isn’t going away any time soon. What followed? – the 2011 Belgian Gaming Act. This made gaming legal, but whether it made it accessible is a matter of opinion. With a very narrow licence quota, and the ever so strict gaming regulations, casino sites are hardly something that is widely available. That didn’t stop us from getting to the bottom of the situation and presenting all key facts about the Belgium gambling laws.
Belgian Gaming Act
Without further delay, let’s see what the Belgium gambling law has to say about what is deemed legal what isn’t. To make a long story short, the government wanted to keep a tight rein on the gaming industry in the country, so it came up with the Belgian Gaming Act that merged with the online and land-based markets. The way this was done is mandating a new requirement that online operators must also possess a brick-and-mortar licence.
This proved almost impossible for off-shore operators with ambitions to expand in Belgium and brought the level of security and predictability the government wanted. However, later on, an exception was made for bwin.party after sealing a partnership with Casino Kursaal Oostende NV. Another thing the Belgian Gaming Act does is specify the number of permitted licences and working definitions.
General Definitions
Legal gambling in Belgium is defined by a series of definitions that are integrated into the written law for everyone to see. The most impactful definition is one of ‘games of chance’. In order to not sound too technical right from the getgo, consider all games that result in a loss or gain of money to be games of chance.
Of course, minus lottery games and those that are played with very small stakes. Well, at least we tried. Actually, there are many stipulations that you are liable to get confused about. Okay, here’s our best swing at what is not a game of chance according to the Belgian gambling laws:
- Sports games
- Games rewarding the player with no more than five free plays
- Under certain conditions, board, parlour, or card games played with minimal stakes where rewards are also minimal
Unlike the gambling laws of India, which don’t recognise poker as a game of chance, it is considered one, as defined in the Belgium gambling laws. The fact that chance plays some role in determining the outcome and a stake is committed is enough for the law to label and treat poker as a game of chance.
History of the Gaming Act
The main piece of legislation regarding gambling in Belgium has gone through a few transformative changes through the years. Mainly, it has been the case that more lines of text were added to the law rather than removed in order to accommodate the ever-shapeshifting gambling industry.
The advent of the internet and the need for online gambling laws has caught many countries off guard, including Belgium. However, that didn’t last for too long because the correct amendments were introduced in the year 2010. These are the three most pivotal moments in the history of legal gambling in Belgium.
| 1999 | The first time the Gaming Act was signed into law. After the act came into force, the legal framework of the gambling industry started taking shape. |
| 2010 | The Gaming Act was adjusted to playing the role of Belgium online gambling laws. Strict rules and regulations for online operators of sports betting sites and casinos were brought to the scene. |
| 2019 | Even more rules to restrict the operations of online gambling firms were instituted. Those are rules for offering games of chance online, gaming advertisements, and age verification. |
On the whole, the government has been fairly consistent in their effort to exert more control on gaming operators and makе the legal market a safer place for the average player. In line with that, The Belgian Gaming Commission has the right to prohibit bets when it believes fairness of outcome cannot be guaranteed or under suspicion of fraud. Even more, control was established over sports betting operators in Belgium through The Gaming Act’s latest definitions of legal bets.
Belgian Gaming Commission
The Belgian Gaming Commission (GC) was founded on 7 May 1999, as a direct consequence of passing the Gambling Act. The GC exercises all rights of a legal gambling regulator in Belgium. It accepts and process applications of gambling operators which fulfil the necessary prerequisites. Like all institutions in a similar position of power, the Gaming Commission of Belgium strives to protect customers and keep operators in line to the extent of its law-given rights. This is what the GC does in a nutshell:
Permitted by Belgium Gambling Law Gamling Types
After a fair bit of reformation, the Belgian gambling laws were changed to give a start to a fully regulated gaming industry. It’s true that obtaining the right licence and keeping it is extremely difficult as it is, but the average user benefits tremendously from that. Many gaming types are now legal in the country and can be accessed both online and in a physical establishment. Here’s what to look for
Casino Gambling
When it comes to the physical and not the virtual world, only a Class I gaming facility can offer casino games. What’s more, a special type of licence is issued after the facility and operator are thoroughly evaluated – A licence. You won’t be left disappointed if you enter one of the whitelisted casinos in the country. The laws on legal gambling in Belgium allow for the following real money games:
- Reel and video slots
- Bingo
- Card games (baccarat, poker, sic bo, blackjack)
- Roulette
- Craps
- Keno
- Wheel of fortune
- Historical horse race terminals
Having all this variety of casino games on offer was made possible by the Royal Decree of 19 July 2001. According to the Decree, casino operators are allowed to host poker tournaments after being instructed by the Gaming Commission.
Sports Betting
Belgium gambling laws control the allowed type of wagers and the possible events on which wagers are accepted. For example, a sport or a gambling event where most participants are minors is not suitable for wagers. Furthermore, an F1 licence is required for the organisation of sports betting, of which there are only 35
What can you bet on in Belgium? Horse races, dog races, football, tennis, and the full variety of sports known and broadcast in the country. As long as the specific fixture or tournament is not susceptible to fraud or predominated by the participation of minors, the licensed sportsbooks have the right to lay odds.
Belgium Online Gambling Laws
Unregulated online gaming is a thing of the past. On 1 January 2011, Belgium gambling laws were finally made 21st-century legislation, fitting in their norms and regulations that apply to the online market. The legislature established the rule that games of chance can only be provided online by an operator holding both a permit for land-based casino services and an online gambling licence.
The National Lottery
The National Lottery is the sole operator allowed to offer lottery games in Belgium. Even so, it can’t make decisions on its own what games it will provide to the public unless they are first approved and defined by a royal decree. However, the possible categories of games are pre-defined in The National Lottery Act as public lotteries, games of chance, wagers, and others. The National lottery also offers its services online, so you can take a good look at all games and buy a ticket to your liking.
How Do Belgium Gamblers Stay Compliant?
The Belgium gambling laws don’t only concern businesses; they are also something for individuals to consider. There are a few things you can do as a real money bettor to help the operators and authorities do their job as required by law. In doing so, you stay at arm’s length away from trouble and do your part in making the gambling industry in Belgium a safer place for everyone.
After all, a player cannot assert any rights with illegal gambling sites: there may be problems with a payout, the blocking of a player’s account, the legal playing limits, the outcome of a particular bet, a technical malfunction, etc.Official GC site
It’s abundantly clear how the operation of illegal gambling firms throw a wrench in the Belgian gambling laws and, at the same time, puts punters at risk. Hence, the statement about illegal games of chance placed on record on the official website of the Gaming Commission. Read more about the commission’s mission, and we really hope you come round to the conviction that staying on the legal side is the best thing for you as a gambler.
Play at a Licensed Gambling Facility
As it is correctly pointed out on the site of the Gaming Commission, the risk of fraud is much greater if you consider non-licensed gambling operators. The official regulator uses all means to raise awareness on the practicality of the Belgium gambling laws when it comes to protecting the average user. It’s in your best interest to stay wise to the recommendations and advice of the commission on the matter of legal gambling in Belgium.
Respect the Minimum Gambling Age
Only people who are at least 21 years of age are deemed eligible to gamble in person at a casino by law. Minors break the law merely by entering one such premise. More leniency is shown when it comes to the minimum sports betting age. Keep in mind that underage gambling is a serious offence in Belgium.
Persons older than 18 can bet online and on-premises. It’s also not okay, nor is it legal for someone younger than 21 years to visit an online casino or gaming arcades. No licensed operator would allow this to happen. Those are some of the strictest measures in whole Europe when it comes to legal gambling age.
FAQ
Belgium gambling law is not something you can figure out overnight. If you still have questions, the next short Q&A will piece the puzzle together for you. Not only did we answer the most popular questions among players in Belgium, but we included direct links to parts of this article that substantiate further.
