Gambling Laws in Belgium

Gambling in Belgium is legal in almost all of its variety. Within the Belgian gambling laws, the Federal Act of 7 May 1999, regarding games of chance, wagers, and protection of the players - also known as Gaming Act - is considered to be the main regulatory act of all gambling activities in the country, with exception of the lotteries which are regulated with special acts. In 2010 the act was amended so that it also includes the regulation of online gambling in Belgium, for which a licensing regime was prescribed. Due to this act, the current Belgian gambling legislation makes all forms of online gambling legal.  

The regulatory body of the land-based and online gambling activities in the country is the Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie/Commission des Jeux de Hasard). It is also authorized for granting licenses for online gambling providers in Belgium. And, according to the Belgian gambling laws, minors below  21 years of age are prohibited to participate in gambling activities.    

Online Casinos in Belgium

There are 9 licensed land-based casino operators in Belgium, most of which have launched casino sites. Casino de Oostende operates one of the most popular online casinos in Belgium, Bwin Casino that offers a wide variety of games. Foreign casino sites are actively being blocked by the Gaming Commission, which has created a blacklist.

Online Poker in Belgium

Poker in Belgium is an extremely popular pastime, with most of the casinos regularly offering attractive poker tournaments. Although there are no specific Belgian online poker laws, the general regulations apply and online poker sites are considered to be legal in the country. There are varieties of specialized websites in Belgium, such as PokerStars, considered the largest poker room in the world, that offer players some challenging tournaments and many benefits.

Online Lottery in Belgium

The Belgian online lottery laws are composed of two acts which serve as a basic legal framework within which La Loterie Nationale offers its lotto products: the Federal Act of 31 December 1851, regarding lotteries - also known as The Lotteries Act - and the Federal Act of 19 April 2002, to rationalize the functioning and the management of the National Lottery, or, shortly, the National Lottery Act.

La Loterie Nationale, formed in 1934, is the main body that provides online lottery in Belgium, too. Some of their most popular online lotto games offered for online lotto fans in the country include the international EuroMillions, Joker+, Lotto extra, Scooore, as well as Win for Life. Other e-games that are highly popular among Belgians are instant games like Les Petits Cochons, La Chasse aux Tresors, Subito, and the Winter Millions.

Online Bingo in Belgium

There are no specific Belgian online bingo laws, but the general gambling legislation provides a definition of bingo as a table game and hence the possibilities of casinos with a license A to offer it to players. Most of the online casinos offer also online bingo in Belgium, with several bingo rooms on their websites. Access to non-licensed providers of bingo rooms is actively being blocked.  

Online Sports Betting in Belgium

Online sportsbook sites in Belgium are legal and highly popular. The regulation of the betting sector in the country is also supervised by the Gaming Commission, as the licensing and regulatory system for sports betting does not differ in status from the other gambling games. Any supplier of online betting opportunities on the Belgian market must obtain a proper license. Foreign online sportsbooks are actively being blocked by the authorities.

Online DFS in Belgium

Online DFS sites in Belgium are not legally regulated. There is an ongoing debate on the status of this type of game, but considering the legality of online sports betting in the country it is very probable that Daily Fantasy Sports will soon become legal in Belgium.