Gambling Industry in Belgium Thrives Despite New Restrictions
Despite increasing regulatory restrictions, Belgium’s gambling industry experienced significant growth in 2023. According to the latest report from the Commission des Jeux de Hasard (CJH), the country’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose by 16.7%, reaching €1.7 billion.
This growth is particularly notable given the government’s implementation of stricter regulations, including a reduction in the weekly loss limit and a comprehensive ban on advertising that took effect in July 2023.
Online Gambling Drives Sector Expansion
The online gambling sector was a major driver of this growth, with GGR increasing by 18% to €944.6 million. This surge underscores the resilience and adaptability of online platforms in Belgium, which continue to thrive despite new limitations.
Land-based casinos also saw substantial growth, with a 15.2% increase in GGR to €758 million, signaling a strong performance across both online and offline gambling environments.
Belgium’s casino industry saw a remarkable 18.7% increase in GGR, totaling €594.9 million. The online segment was particularly robust, with GGR up by 20.2% to €455 million. However, brick-and-mortar casinos also showed solid growth, with a 14.3% rise in GGR.
Notably, Casinos Austria International’s Grand Casino Brussels led the offline market with an impressive GGR of €52.5 million, far surpassing other establishments in the country.
Slot Arcades See Growth While Betting and Newsagents Struggle
Slot arcades in Belgium also reported strong growth, with GGR up 17.3% to €437 million. Online slots were a significant contributor, accounting for 57.7% of the total slot arcade revenue.
However, the betting sector lagged behind other segments, with a more modest GGR increase of 8.4% to €390 million. Online betting continued to dominate, making up 60.9% of the total betting GGR.
The regulatory tightening has had a pronounced impact on Belgium’s newsagents, which saw a 26.3% drop in GGR. New restrictions, including limited betting hours and caps on annual stakes, have led to a significant decline in the number of active newsagent licensees. The number fell from 1,580 at the end of 2022 to 1,484 by the close of 2023, reflecting the challenges posed by the new regulatory environment.
Ongoing Regulatory Changes
Belgium’s gambling landscape continues to evolve, with further regulatory changes on the horizon. In addition to the existing restrictions, the legal gambling age in the country will rise to 21 years old starting from September 2024.
Industry experts have raised concerns that these ongoing changes could drive players towards unregulated markets, potentially undermining the progress made in channeling players to legal and safe gambling environments.
