Belgian Gaming Commission Information and Ratings

Full details about the Belgian Gaming Commission

The Belgian Gaming Commission, also simply The Commission, reports to the Federal Public Service for Justice making it a deeply embedded part of the Belgian judicial and governmental system not a lip service organisation.

This can be seen proactively and decisively in which they have addressed all forms of gambling in Belgium, including online casinos, loot boxes and poker. Keep reading to find more about the Gaming Commission and a list of top online casinos approved by it.

Belgian Gaming Commission Details

WOW Score: 79/100 Excellent Game Integrity Controlled Market

Gambling Regulation

Initially, the Belgian Gaming Commission banned all games of chance at online gambling sites, under the Gambling Act of 7 May 1999.

However, it recognised how this merely opened the door to unregulated gambling and amended it with the Act of January 2010, which allowed it to channel online gambling through approved and regulated channels by means of licensing.

In a landmark move to protect children from the abusive nature of the loot boxes so aggressively marketed by many gaming companies such as Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Loot Crate, Valve and 2K, the Commission banned them.

It also refused to allow games such as FIFA to be sold in Belgium unless drastic changes were made to the monetisation system.

The Commission has taken a hard line when it comes to playing poker for real money in Belgium.

By their definition of gambling on a game of chance (there are stakes, win/loss possibilities and an element of chance) poker for money is a game of chance, not skill.

This is due to the cards being dealt at random (chance), the possibility of winning or losing money (win/loss) and the need to place a wager, to begin with (the stake).

They also include the indirect costs as a potential “stake” this includes paying for an item such as a cap or shirt and getting access to a game, as well as exponentially more expensive drinks. This essentially cancels the possibility of running a poker tournament.

Note that: "It was reported in January 2019 that EA and others had capitulated to Belgium’s demands and removed loot boxes from their games in the territory."

On 1st of June 2019, the Gambling Commission took a stand on potentially harmful gambling practices and put a limit on the amount players could deposit at online casinos each. The limit of €500 each week was set in place. This amount could not be changed unless the casinos can verify whether or not the player is registered on the National Bank’s list of defaulters. If this can be verified, casinos are able to lift the weekly cap.

Casino welcome bonuses are also limited to only €275 for new players. This was decided to make gamblers less likely to make massive deposits when creating a new account. Reload bonuses, free spins and other regular online casino promotions are banned by the Gaming Commission. However, most gambling sites in Belgium offer loyalty and gamification systems to exchange points for cash vouchers and other perks.

Why we rated the Belgian Gaming Commission with WOW LicenceScore (WLS) 79/100

The Belgian Gaming Commission is a robust and reliable regulator that safeguards players and ensures games are fair. However, we believe they can improve their digital efficiency and innovation implementation, so our WLS rate is 79 out of 100.

Player Protection & RG - 72/100 - This authority has made efforts to ensure player safety during gameplay, but we believe they can further improve their services.

- National self-exclusion (Strong) - EPIS is the name of the BGC's central self-exclusion system. It works well for both online and land-based operators.

- Mandatory tools (Mixed) - The BGC has implemented strict rules for the operators, providing players' safety and still, essential tools like automatic breaks are not fully supported.

- Affordability/SoF controls (Mixed) - The Belgian Gaming Commission doesn't make enough checks to make sure players don't play with money they can't afford; they should definitely implement new deposit limits.

- Player funds protection (Mixed) - There are no mandatory insurances or guarantees, which puts players' money at risk in case the operator fails.
Enforcement & Supervision - 78/100 - The Belgian Gaming Commission is strict in monitoring the implementation of its rules, but faces some challenges in terms of the resources available to it.

- Deterrence track record (Strong) - The Commission is proactive, as an example, in 2024, it issued 66 fines totalling €4.6 m, withdrew 21 licences, suspended 7, and gave 22 warnings. These results demonstrate considerable effort, but most fines are still not fully collected, so the actual impact is limited.

- Audit cadence & resourcing (Mixed) - What we found out is that the Belgian Gaming Commission doesn't have enough resources and staff to make consistent audits.

- Publicity of actions (Mixed) - The BGC shares publicly information like its blacklists, but it can be challenging to find these details.
Licensing Standards - 88/100 - The Belgian Gaming Commission maintains a high level of operational standards and a license classification system.

- Fit & proper (Excellent) - They put lots of work into researching each applicant, which makes their list of licensed operators trustworthy.

- Operational controls (Excellent) - Applicants must cover high standards in finance, technical systems and constant audits.

- Entry bar clarity (Strong) - Their licensing rules are very clear and straightforward. For newer or smaller operators, getting this license can be very expensive.
Testing & Game Integrity - 91/100 - The BGC utilises a robust system to test the games, ensuring fairness and reliability. This also contributes to their high rating of 91 out of 100.

- Approved labs & scope (Excellent) - Independent certified labs test Games RNG systems, mathematical models and jackpot systems.

- RTP policy (Excellent) - The authority requires each game’s RTP to be clearly communicated and to match what the lab tests show.

- Change management (Excellent) - Any major updates or changes to games or platforms need to be re‑certified in order to be legal.
Transparency & Guidance - 75/100 - In general, the BGC is strict and transparent; however, finding public information and documentation can be challenging, which negatively impacts our WLS score.

- Clarity of rulebooks (Mixed) - Players can find everything they need in the documents, but it can take time and effort to locate the right one.

- Public registers (Strong) - There are public lists of licence holders and banned sites, but it is not really easy to find these details.

- Update velocity (Mixed) - The updates and changes usually take too much time, compared with the top-tier competitors.
Banking & Crypto Compliance - 55/100 - BGC excels in traditional payments but falls short in more modern payment options, such as crypto. Those results are not great in the dynamics of the modern gambling world.

- Clarity & safeguards for crypto/open-banking - There is not a lot of guidance on how to use cryptocurrency when gambling, and most of the licensed companies cannot operate with crypto for gambling.

Restrictions on Gambling with Credit Cards and eWallets

Players who are hoping to fund their casino accounts by using their credit cards can no longer do so at Belgium casinos. It is also prohibited to fund an eWallet like Skrill and Neteller with a credit card and use that eWallet at an online casino.

The responsibility for ensuring that this doesn’t happen falls on the casinos. Most regulated online casinos can no longer feature eWallet companies such as Skrill or Neteller to ensure that players are unable to make deposits using their credit cards and what is essentially borrowed cash.

Mission

The Commission ensures the mental, personal, data and financial safety of its residents. This also includes protecting minors from gambling and activities, which may lead to gambling addiction later in life.

As discussed, the Commission took a decisive stand on loot boxes as gambling for two reasons. It was taking advantage of minors and their lack of fiscal understanding, and it promoted openness to making financial decisions with risk elements, which was deemed to normalise gambling behaviour. This normalisation at a young age was considered to enhance compulsive gambling behaviours actively.

The Commission also manages a list of approved online casinos and a list of blacklisted casinos – which is available on their official website. This is no mere barking dog; this list has teeth as the Commission informs both the local authorities digital crimes department and the state ISP’s. These sites are blocked from access within Belgium and placed on a digital watch list.

Players engaging in illegal gambling face fines ranging from €26 to €25,000. If a minor is involved of the player is a repeat offender fines will be set and then doubled. Operators providing unlicensed gambling to Belgian players will face fines of up to €100,000.

Licensing

The Commission’s foremost directive is the protection of local gamblers, and as such, they hold the applicants for gambling licences to the highest possible standards. There is a stringent review process that includes looking at past financial behaviour, the details of both shareholders and key staffing in the proposed organisation, the games to be offered and their compliance with local rulings on games of chance and more. Here are some of the items under review:

Corporate Structure

Proof of residence or incorporation in an EU member state
Proof of financial solvency and zero debt
Shareholder plan and criminal records of all shareholders

Player Related Policies

Advertising Policies and plans
Responsible Gaming initiatives

Technical Review

In-depth website structure and map
Server location
List of casino games and their internal rule settings

Data Protection & Security

Security measures to protect the site from hackers and breaches
SSL and other technical protective measures
Payment gateway security protocols

Before an application is considered, the Commission may require the applicant to provide security in the amount of up to €250,000 based on the licence application in question.

Benefits for Players Playing at Legal Gambling Sites in Belgium

As they have proven, the Commission is focused on the security and well-being of the player above all else. This allows Belgian gamblers to transact at any approved online casino with the peace of mind that they are in safe hands and will have the backing of the Commission in dealing with any unforeseen issues.

The Commission has ensured that each province has its selection of helpful organisations ready to aid gamblers who find themselves struggling with compulsive behaviour. In addition to the trained professionals on hand to assist at these venues, there are also various forms of gambling exclusion available in Belgium, including voluntary self-exclusion, intervention by an interested third party and more. Information on this and more are readily available at GokHulp.be their official problem gambling website.

Top Online Casinos Regulated by the Belgian Gaming Commission

When it comes to reviewing approved online casinos in Belgium, you know, they will be the very best of the best given the Commission’s intensive process. Here are three of the approved online gambling sites which hold the Belgian A+ Licence:

Casino777.be – A slick game focused casino, Casino777 is available in German, French, Dutch and English and offers world-class localised support around the clock! They proudly share their annual payout rate, which sat at an astonishing 98.3% for last year! They are also the online casino partners of Casino de Spa which was founded in 1763!

Unibet.be – Unibet is a globally recognised brand who only offer their services in Belgium in either German or French. They have received the top licencing approval, which allows them to provide online casinos, online betting and even online poker in this region.

GoldenPalace.be – GoldenPalace offer superb online casino entertainment, live dealer gambling, dice games and sports betting in English, French and Dutch. Enjoy their selection of games from top game providers like Netent, Quickspin, Elk Studios, Thunderkick and many more.

CasinoWow Round-up

While the Belgian Gaming Commission is seen as one of the toughest in the industry, their decisiveness and willingness to take action, as seen with loot boxes, is refreshing. As a gambler under their jurisdiction, one can gamble with complete trust in the protection that this authority offers.

Full details about the Belgian Gaming Commission