Belgium Standardises Minimum Gambling Age to 21 Amid Concerns Over Illegal Markets
Belgium has introduced new regulations setting a minimum age of 21 for all forms of gambling, aligning the entire sector with existing casino rules.
New Age Requirements Across the Sector
As of 2024, the minimum age for participating in sports betting, arcade games, and bingo in Belgium has been raised to 21 years, matching the age requirement that has been in place for land-based casinos since 2018.
This change, confirmed by a royal decree last month, consolidates various age-related gambling laws that had been in place for decades.
The decision to standardize the age limit is part of a series of measures aimed at increasing regulation and reducing gambling-related harm, particularly among younger players.
Ongoing Efforts to Regulate Gambling
The new age restrictions are the latest in a series of regulatory actions by the Belgian government.
In recent years, Belgium has implemented a series of stringent measures, including a near-total ban on gambling advertising in 2023 and the prohibition of bonuses and free bets since 2020.
Additionally, a weekly deposit limit of €200 has been introduced, and there is now a ban on holding multiple online gambling licenses on the same website.
These measures reflect the government’s ongoing strategy to curb gambling addiction and protect vulnerable populations.
Concerns Over the Rise of Illegal Gambling
Despite these efforts, there is growing concern among licensed gambling operators that the tightening regulations may inadvertently drive players toward illegal gambling sites.
A report by Belgium-based operator Gaming1 highlighted the risks of overregulation, pointing to recent studies that suggest a troubling trend.
According to surveys conducted by Nepa in 2023, there has been a 6% increase in the number of online players using illegal gambling websites in the months following the advertising ban.
Furthermore, there was a 4% rise in deposits made on these unlicensed platforms.
Increasing Presence of Illegal Operators
The Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) has documented a significant rise in illegal gambling activities, with its blacklist now encompassing over 500 illegal sites.
Yield Sec, another organization monitoring the sector, reported a 4.4-fold increase in the number of illegal operators in 2023, identifying 2,214 such sites.
These findings underscore the challenges regulators face in balancing consumer protection with the risk of pushing players toward unregulated and potentially more dangerous gambling environments.
