Gambling In Belgium

From medieval towns and aesthetic art-nouveau buildings to Renaissance architecture and baroque guildhalls at Grand-Place, Belgium is a phenomenal Western European nation. While its capital, Brussels, is bilingual, it’s surrounded with Dutch, French and German-speaking countries to the north, south, and east respectively. Finally, Belgium is home to the headquarters of the NATO and EU. All these attributes in conjunction with its fascinating gambling industry, Belgium is a sophisticated destination.

Is Gambling Legal In Belgium
Is Gambling Illegal In Belgium
Gambling In Belgium

List of Casinos in Belgium

Below is a list of all casinos currently operating in the regions of Belgium.

Blitz Casino Antwerp
Blue Diamond – Lichtervelde
Brussels Zenith
Cameo Palace Brussels
Cameo Palace Quévy
Capitole
Carousel Casino Games
Casino Blankenberge
Casino de Chaudfontaine
Casino de Spa
Casino Kursaal Oostende
Chip Amusement
Circus Andenne
Circus Arlon
Circus Barchon
Circus Boncelles
Circus Braine
Circus Bruxelles
Circus Chapelle
Circus Charleroi
Circus Gosselies
Circus Guillemins
Circus Herstal
Circus Loncin
Circus London
Circus Longdoz
Circus Loverval
Circus Mons
Circus Waremme
Emerald – La Louvière
Emerald – Ypres
Gambling City
Golden Games
Golden Palace Brussels
Golden Palace Charleroi
Golden Palace Charleroi Grand Central
Golden Palace Péruwelz
Golden Palace St-Ghislain
Golden Palace Waterloo
Grand Casino Brussels VIAGE
Grand Casino de Namur
Hippodrome de Wallonie
Hippodroom Jeker
Hippodroom Kuurne
Hippodroom Waregem
Hippodroom Wellington
L’Express
Le Golden Vegas
Magic Dice – Beveren
Magic Dice – Boortmeerbeek
Magic Dice – Boutersem
Magic Dice – Grobbendonk
Magic Dice – Holsbeek
Magic Dice – Houthalen
Magic Dice – Lier
Magic Dice – Mol
Magic Dice – Scherpenheuvel
Mirage – Amay
Napoleon Casino de Middelkerke
Napoleon Games Grand Casino Knokke
New Vegas Belgium
Palais Casino du Dinant
PalladiumGames
Panache Europe
Playworld Amusement – Antwerp
Playworld Amusement – Lokeren
Playworld Amusement – Roeselare
Poker Palace
StarCasino
Starcasino.be – Overijse
Starcasino.be – Vilvoorde
Starcasino.be – Zaventem
Starcasino.be – Zingem
SuperGame Casino Antwerpen
Tonalty Amusement
Versailles Palace – Brussels
Versailles Palace – Charleroi
Versailles Palace – Mons
Win2Day Belgium SA

History of Casinos in Belgium

Online poker and gambling in general in Belgium is pretty tightly regulated by the Belgium Gambling Commission, and includes things that you don’t see elsewhere such as monitoring the loss rate of players and excluding those from all licensed web sites that are deemed to be crossing the acceptable threshold. Topics Include: 🏆 Best Betting Sites in Belgium ️ Rating Criteria ⚽ Sports and Leagues 🎁 Betting Bonuses 🛡️ Belgian Gambling Law The Best Sports Betting Sites in Belgium for 2020. While Belgium may not have the most relaxed laws when it comes to online gambling compared to other EU nations, there are still several top Belgian sportsbooks that are well worth signing up with.

Gambling never caught any attention in Belgium until 1930 when Grand Casino Knokke was constructed in the seaside resort of Knokke-Heist according to Leon Stynen’s design. During World War II, the casino was heavily destructed. Nevertheless, renovations and Rene Magritte’s decorations empowered the casino after the war and increased its continental fame. Considerably, this casino and the nationwide love for sports made gambling popular in Belgium.

However, gambling was not officially legalized until 1999. On May 7th, the then-Belgian administration passed the Law on all gaming, gambling and betting activities, and instituted Belgian Gaming Commission to license, regulate, monitor and audit all gambling facilities, activities, players and organizers in the country. Later on January 10th 2010, the commission along with the Law were amended so new casinos could open (there could only be 9 casinos, 34 sportsbooks, and 180 arcades according to the first law) and to cement the fact that the minimum gambling age in Belgium is 21 years, unlike most countries.

Licensing a gambling facility in Belgium is a bit complicated according to the law of the land. Licenses are divided into many parts. A is meant for land-based casinos while A+ is meant for casinos providing online services as well. B is for land-based slot machine arcades while B+ is for the arcades which provide online services as well. C is issued to cafés and venues offering one-ball and Bingo only. D is issued to employees of a gambling establishment. E is for gaming equipment – renting, selling and production. F1 is the organizer of the bet, F2 is for individuals providing betting services, and F2 is for providing online sports betting services.

Lastly, G1 is for the televised games of chance while G2 is for the games of chance broadcasted using another media coverage.

Current Gambling Climate

Gambling, as stated earlier, has attained a height of fame in Belgium. Most – if not all – forms of gambling are legal, licensed and regulated. Poker, lottery, and sports (especially football) betting are particularly popular amongst Belgium natives and residents. As long as a company is licensed and regulated by Belgium Gaming Commission, the company can carry out gambling operations according to the license acquired.

The country features a total number of 79 gambling facilities consisting of 74 casinos and five racetracks. The country’s gambling scene is as pleasant as other European countries’. Gambling is a nationwide pastime so everything related to gambling and casinos is made easy in Belgium. Additionally, the country offers a distinct feature: an opportunity for French, Dutch, German, or mixed speakers to enjoy a variety of casino games.

Casinos in Belgium by Area

In Belgium, most cities and towns feature one gambling facility. There are exceptions, however, namely Brussels with eight, Antwerp with eight, Charleroi with four, Liège with three, Mons with two, Pecq with two, and Oostende with two. Therefore, there are 57 cities and towns with one or more gambling facilities in Belgium.

The largest gambling facility in the whole Belgium is the Grand Casino Brussels VIAGE, which has a WPT Poker Room for 100 players, 375 gaming machines, and 39 table games. Grand Casino de Namur offers 221 gaming machines and table games as the second largest casino. Casino Kursaal Oostende is the third largest gambling facility in Belgium, with 200 gaming machines and 20 table games. Napoleon Games Grand Casino Knokke – the oldest Belgian casino – is the fourth largest facility, with 200 gaming machines and 18 table games.

Types of Casinos in Belgium

There is a wide variety of gambling and gaming options in Belgium. The traditional casinos are mostly attached to large, luxury hotels and offer games and activities such as slot machines, blackjack, Omaha poker, Texas Hold’em, punto banco, Stud poker, baccarat, craps, and English roulette. Poker tournaments and cash games often hold as well.

In addition to casinos, there are more than 180 amusement arcades in Belgium. These arcades are permitted to offer slot machines exclusively. Bingo, on the other hand, is not popular in Belgium. Amongst the total 79 gambling facilities, only a few – and the National Lottery – offer bingo games. Horse racing is loved in Belgium, considering the five hippodromes operating in the country.

Online gambling in Belgium works in a distinct way. Online casinos, lotteries, poker sites, and bookmakers must be connected to a physical gambling facility within Belgium. As a result of this, Belgium citizens and visitors are not allowed to gamble on most online gambling providers.

Sports betting – as expected – is outrageously popular in Belgium like other European countries. While football (soccer) is the country’s favorite, other sports are widely wagered on. The lottery, similarly, is well-liked in Belgium. This European country also uses a state-monopolized lottery operator like most countries. The Loterie National Belgique (or the Belgian National Lottery) offers bingo, lotto, and keno amongst other options. The national lottery operator also offers lottery games, bingo and sports betting online at e-lotto.be.

Facts About Casinos in Belgium

– Initially, the minimum gambling age in Belgium was 18 years. However, the minimum gambling age is 21 years currently. It’s even more complicated than that! Casinos in Belgium are limited to people 21 years or older because casinos are considered private clubs and players are considered members.

– Belgian casinos require a valid ID with a recent photo before entering the facility.

– Almost all forms of land-based and online gaming and gambling are legal in Belgium.

– While Grand Casino Brussels VIAGE is part of the Casinos Austria International chain, Casino Kursaal Oostende is part of the Partouche Group.

– Belgium has some of the largest casinos in Europe.

– Grand Casino Knokke initially belonged to Partouche Group – a French casino-hotel company – before being sold to Napoleon Games Company due to some monetary issues.

Is Gambling Legal In Belgium

– The Miss Belgium beauty pageant event holds annually at the Grand Casino Knokke in Knokke-Heist.

– According to the Law of May 7, 1999, sporting activities, promotional contests (excluding sweepstakes), card, parlour or other games which present no monetary benefits, games which allow the player to play five times or less consecutively, games played outside a gambling facility, games organized due to a special event four times or less a year, games offered by fairs or amusement parks, and games organized for a non-profit, charitable or social course are not classified as games of chance.

– Belgium Gaming Commission has 10 representatives and a president. Two representatives each from the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of Finance.

– Fines ordered by Belgium Gaming Commission concerning illegal gambling can range from €26 to €25,000 for players and €100 to €100,000 for operators.

– Belgium Gaming Commission lists hundreds of banned gaming websites on its official website: gamingcommission.be.

– In pursuit of solving online identification issues, Belgium Gaming Commission licensed True Odds NV on 25 October 2017 to offer Egames 2.0, a system to identify fake national registry numbers.

– On 1 February 2010, the Law of 10 January 2010 was openly published in the Belgian Official Gazette and became effective on 1 January 2011.

– The Federal Public Service for Justice is the head of Belgium Gaming Commission.

– According to Belgium Gaming Commission, stake, chance, and win or lose are the three elements of a game of chance.

– According to Belgium Gaming Commission, gambling facilities are divided into casinos, slot machine arcades, betting offices, and bookshops.

– Belgium started making moves to ban loot boxes in November 2017.

Belgium is one of the countries which does allow online poker to be played legally, with the full permission of the government, but does have some strict controls placed upon it. The government of Belgium is in fact even more serious at having its residents comply with their regulations though which are fairly narrow in scope.

Current legislation requires online poker sites offering play to Belgian residents to obtain a license to do so, and while this does technically require a physical presence in Belgium, operators have found a way around this, and this not only allows for casino operators in Belgium to run their own sites, it also permits poker companies to team up with casino operators to offer joint ventures, with the casino lending their name to the operation in exchange for compensation.

So for instance we have seen industry leader PokerStars obtain a license to operate in Belgium by their joining forces with one of the casinos there, in this case Casino de Namur who holds the casino license. (1) This allows PokerStars and other poker operations willing to go to these lengths to obtain a Belgian gaming license the opportunity to market to Belgian players under full permission of the government.

Online poker and gambling in general in Belgium is pretty tightly regulated by the Belgium Gambling Commission, and includes things that you don’t see elsewhere such as monitoring the loss rate of players and excluding those from all licensed web sites that are deemed to be crossing the acceptable threshold.

Belgian authorities boast about such things as providing a level of protection that so called illegal sites cannot offer and extend this protection throughout the list of licensed sites, so it’s not just a matter of not being able to play at a certain poker site and then just playing elsewhere, as players become excluded in all Belgian licensed poker sites by way of this.

While some players may complain about this, it’s not a terrible idea overall but more than anything it speaks to the level of control desired by Belgian gaming authorities overall.

The Consequences Of Non-Compliance

The regulatory framework in Belgium has of course led to a list of approved sites, and players of course are limited to playing in licensed poker sites only, as is always the case with poker regulation. One of the main reasons why jurisdictions regulate this sort of thing is to exercise control and a big part of this control is telling you where you can and cannot play.

Other countries strive for this as well in their regulations but typically don’t go after players with criminal sanctions. This can lead to regulators bemoaning the fact that player compliance isn’t as high as they would like, and perhaps even going as far as looking to block access to unlicensed operators’ web sites by residents.

Belgium goes much further than this and makes it not only a crime to play on non approved poker sites, it also wields a big stick in doing so. Violators who are caught playing at these so called grey sites are subject to a fine of up to €150,000 and 3 years in prison. (2)

Whether or not the Belgian government ever follows through with this or not, and if anyone is willing to do that they certainly are, may be another matter, as these cases can be very difficult to prosecute, but based upon recent comments from the authorities they are definitely serious about this and have recently doubled the amount of “inspectors” on staff.

Unlike other countries, they do understand that the success of prohibition is going to rest on altering the behavior of those under its jurisdiction, the people actually located in Belgium in other words, rather than focusing their efforts on operators outside of the country who aren’t really subject to their laws.

So given all of this, it seems wise for Belgian players to confine their play to approved and licensed operations only, and there are currently several options available, including having access to the world’s biggest poker site by far, so this certainly isn’t anywhere as restrictive as you see generally with regulation, for reasons we’re about to explain.

Belgium’s Open Approach To Online Poker Regulation

Belgium is definitely a smallish country with a population of only 11 million, which may be enough to support a domestic online poker market, but probably not a very burgeoning one to say the least.

So while other countries such as France and Italy have required that operators run sites that are exclusive to the country, in other words cordoning off the player pools to residents of the country only, Belgium has taken a much wiser approach to the problem.

One of the biggest complaints that players have about online poker regulation is that it serves to shrink the player pool from being able to play against players from all over the world, as they were accustomed to prior to regulation, to now only being able to play against players from their own country.

So if someone was playing at the main Poker Stars site for instance, and now have to play at Poker Stars France or Poker Stars Italy, they may find that the country specific site does not have the amount of traffic they desire, due to the player pool being much smaller.

So in a country the size of Belgium this would be an even bigger concern, as in an even smaller player pool, but Belgian authorities decided not to place such a restriction on the market, so their players may be playing at Pokerstars.be for instance but can access the main Poker Stars player pool.

There’s no real reason why other countries can’t do this and in fact this is the way the U.K. is looking to set up their regulation as well now. It’s likely that regulators didn’t really understand the significance of this when they came up with their scheme but there’s no question that domestic player pools negatively impact revenue by encouraging less play.

This is the biggest reason by far that regulated online poker consistently shows results that are well below predicted numbers, as smaller player pools fail to create the kind of interest necessary to see the operations even come close to achieving their full potential. This is not a problem with the Belgian scheme though.

So this certainly takes the bite out of regulation for Belgian players and take the situation from perhaps a dicey one as far as success goes if it had been confined to a smallish Belgian player pool only and provide what it needs to achieve the success that everyone wants to see.

References:

(1) Poker Stars Awarded Full Operating License in Belgium

(2) Belgium to Tackle Players on Illegal Sites

Is Gambling Illegal In Belgium

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