Online gambling regulation in Belgium

Prohibited. Federal Act of 7 May 1999 on games of chance and Royal Decree of 27 February 2023 on gambling advertising.

Operating games of chance without a licence is illegal; advertising such illegal offerings is generally treated as unlawful promotion under the Gaming Act and advertising RD.

Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie / Commission des jeux de hasard) — www.gamingcommission.be/en

Federal Act of 7 May 1999 on games of chance, betting, gaming establishments and player protection (Gaming Act)

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. Gaming Commission publishes lists of licensed operators and a list of illegal gambling sites; includes blocked domains.

https://www.gamingcommission.be/en

• ISP/domain blocking; GC list of illegal sites, enforced via blocking orders
• Administrative sanctions and fines under the Gaming Act for unlicensed operators
• Criminal prosecution for illegal operation of games of chance under the Gaming Act
• Obligation for GC to maintain URL list of unlicensed sites, supporting enforcement measures

• Royal Decree of 27 February 2023 heavily restricts gambling advertising across TV, radio, outdoor, press and public spaces from 1 July 2023
• Advertising on websites and social media largely prohibited; limited exceptions for operators’ own channels when users actively seek information
• Sports sponsorship phased out: stadium advertising banned since 1 January 2025; all sports sponsorship to end by 1 January 2028
• Additional detailed advertising rules and guidance published by the Gaming Commission (RD advertising section)

• Royal Decree of 27 February 2023 on gambling advertising fully in force from 1 January 2025; transitional advertising contracts ended
• Law of 7 May 2024 amending the Gaming Act, including new obligations on the GC to maintain a URL list of unlicensed sites
• From 2024–2025, different categories of online games (casino, slots, betting) must be offered on separate websites, not combined

• Exact article numbers in the Gaming Act criminalising illegal operation and regulating advertising not confirmed from primary text
• Specific legal provision explicitly prohibiting advertising of unlicensed/illegal gambling not directly identified in publicly accessible consolidated law
• Whether specific Belgian enforcement or guidance exists for sweepstakes/social casinos
• Whether Belgian law treats particular prediction markets as gambling, betting, or financial derivatives
• Whether loot boxes have been expressly addressed by Belgian regulators or courts in the online context

1. gamingcommission.be/en
2. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/gaming-law-2025/belgium/trends-and-developments
3. cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-online-gambling-regulation-in-europe/belgium
4. gamingcommission.be/en/online-gambling
5. gamingcommission.be/en/legislation?sort_by=title&sort_order=ASC&page=3
6. gamingcommission.be/en/rd-advertising
7. technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu/en/notification/24841/text/F/EN
8. gamingcommission.be/en/operators/rd-advertising
9. iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/belgium
10. somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/europe/belgium
11. gamingcommission.be/en/legislation?sort_by=title&sort_order=ASC&page=15
12. pokerfuse.com/news/law-and-regulation/belgian-players-face-25k-fines-play-blacklisted-sites/
13. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/belgium
14. betsatlas.com/belgium
15. cdcgaming.com/brief/belgium-blocks-polymarket-as-blacklisted-website/
16. startpolymarket.com/countries/belgium/
17. paymentexpert.com/2025/02/03/belgium-blocks-polymarket-predictions/
18. sigma.world/news/belgium-joins-growing-list-of-countries-banning-polymarket/
19. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymarket
20. track360.io/blog/loot-box-vs-mystery-box-gambling-regulation-map-2026
21. tech-insider.org/mystery-boxes/mystery-boxes-vs-loot-boxes/
22. track360.io/blog/mystery-box-gambling-or-shopping-operator-compliance-guide
23. blog.promise.legal/loot-box-laws-game-developers/
24. betterchecked.com/review/earnlab-test-review

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.