Belgium Gaming Commission Belgian Gaming Commission
It is Belgium's gambling regulator. Belgium is one of Europe's strictest countries, with a minimum age of 21 for all gambling, a 200 euro weekly deposit limit, a bonus ban and an advertising ban.
| English | Belgian Gaming Commission |
|---|---|
| Classification | Licenses & Regulation |
| Organization | Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie) |
| Governing law | Gambling Act of 1999 |
| Location | Brussels, Belgium |
| 온라인 | Only holders of a land-based permit can get an additional online permit (+ license) |
| Minimum age | 21 for all gambling (casinos 2018, the rest 2024) |
| Deposit limits | 200 euros per week (since 2020) |
| Bonus | Banned since 2020 |
| Advertising | Banned in principle from July 1, 2024 |
| 불법 사이트 차단 | About 500 |
Overview
The Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie in Dutch, Commission des jeux de hasard in French) is Belgium’s gambling regulator. It was created under the 1999 Gambling Act and is based in Brussels. As a body linked to the Ministry of Justice, it licenses and supervises casinos, slot machine venues (game halls), betting shops, and online gambling.
Belgium manages online gambling tied to offline gambling. To run an online casino, you first need an offline casino, game hall, or betting shop license in Belgium, and then you must obtain an additional online license (the so-called “+ license”). As a result, it is hard for foreign companies to enter on their own, and the number of operators is small.
History
Key regulations
| Regulations | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | All gambling 21+ (excluding state lotteries) |
| Deposit limits | €200 per week, separate assessment required to raise it |
| Bonus | Offering bonuses and free bets banned |
| Advertising | Gambling advertising banned in principle |
| Site combination | Combining multiple license types (casino + betting, etc.) on one site banned |
| Self-exclusion | Nationwide self-exclusion register (EPIS) |
| Illegal sites | Blocklist of about 500 sites maintained |
Why so strict?
Belgium has a strong tradition of treating gambling as an “exception allowed only within a controlled scope.” To curb gambling addiction among young people, especially the spread of sports betting and online slots, the government tied together age, deposit, and advertising rules all at once. Few countries in the European Union have regulations this tight.
Illegal market controversy
The industry argues that excessive regulation pushes players toward unlicensed sites. According to a survey cited by the Belgian operator Gaming1, the number of people using illegal sites rose 6% after the advertising ban, and deposits at illegal sites rose 4%. The Gaming Commission is responding by continuing to expand its blocklist.
Comparison with other countries
| Category | Belgium | Netherlands | Germany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 | 18 years old | 18 years old |
| Deposit limits | €200 per week | €300/€700 per month | €1,000 per month |
| Bonus | Banned | Limits | Limits |
| Advertising | Banned in principle | Targeting the general public banned | Time-of-day restrictions |
Rating
Belgium is one of the countries with the most conservative regulation in Europe. It is strong on player protection, but it is also a leading example in the debate over whether strict regulation can grow the illegal market. Recently, Lithuania has been following a similar direction by raising its age limit to 21 and introducing an advertising ban.
Location
The Belgian Gaming Commission is based in Brussels, the capital.