Key Moments:
- The Belgian Gambling Commission’s 2024 Annual Report highlighted a 37.4% increase in daily gambling platform usage compared to 2020.
- Regulator president Magali Clavie pressed for immediate action on promised reforms and reassignment of regulatory oversight.
- Total fines issued during 2024 amounted to €4.6 million, nearly four times higher than the previous year’s total.
Call for Accelerated Reforms
The Belgian Gambling Commission has urged lawmakers to expedite changes to the gambling regulatory framework, referencing initiatives introduced at the start of the year. According to its 2024 Annual Report, which summarizes last year’s key trends in player engagement, licensing, and enforcement, there is a critical need for increased operational capacity and updates to regulatory strategy.
Kansspelcommissie president Magali Clavie advocated for the quick transfer of regulatory authority to the Minister of the Economy. In the report, she stated: “Too much precious time has been wasted. It would be a shame and a shame to waste even more. The new government’s agreement, made public on January 31 2025 finally offers a glimpse of new perspectives as it provides for reform of the commission and transfer to the Minister of the Economy, the sole authority. This should be enough to breathe new life into things and allow us to rethink things after 25 years. May this reform go in the expected direction and may it allow the commission to grow and adapt to the market that it regulates in a modern way as do its European counterparts, whom I thank here for our discussions and work within the Gambling Regulators European Forum.”
Market Growth and Player Engagement
The 2024 report identifies growing involvement in Belgium’s gambling sector. Daily engagement on gambling platforms averaged 155,643 individuals, marking a 37.4% increase from 2020. Monthly participation reached 602,288, a rise of 19.8% in four years. New player registrations climbed 15% year-on-year to 193,342.
Land-based casinos saw comparatively lower foot traffic, with roughly 15,937 daily visitors.
Participation Exclusion Data
Belgium’s Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS) recorded 56,458 registrations. About a third self-excluded, while similar proportions stemmed from collective debt arrangements or legal orders. Of those in the register, 12,609 identified as women, 38,823 as men, and 5,422 chose not to specify their gender.
Licensing Overview
| Category | Number of Licenses (2024) |
|---|---|
| Class A Casino | 9 |
| A+ Extensions | 9 |
| B-Class (automated gaming rooms) | 175 |
| B+ Licenses | 49 |
| C-Class (café-based gaming) | 4,272 |
| D-Class (gaming staff) | 8,534 |
| E-Class (equipment suppliers) | 17,519 |
The commission also renewed Brussels Casino’s license through 2026 and approved a license for Middelkerke Casino’s new site. Additional figures include 408 betting agencies, 28 licensed bookmakers, and 1,281 newsagents permitted to offer gaming services.
Regulatory Enforcement and Unlicensed Activity
Throughout 2024, the regulator examined 101 unlicensed gambling operators. Of these, 31 could not be reached, and 70 received directives to block Belgian users – just 19 complied. Authorities blacklisted 34 operators and conducted follow-up inspections on 14 more. In total, 105 illegal gambling URLs were blocked last year.
Warnings were given to six affiliate marketers regarding the need to revise player-related advertising, with compliance achieved by half. According to the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO), unlicensed sites continue to represent a significant portion of the market, with 25% of players using these platforms.
The commission reported 133 sanctions for 2024: 66 fines imposing a combined €4.6 million in penalties, 21 license withdrawals, 7 license suspensions, and 22 formal warnings. Seventeen cases were closed due to inapplicability. The overall value of fines rose sharply compared to the previous year, nearly quadrupling 2023’s total.
- Author
Daniel Williams
