Belgian courts block Versailles Casino clone
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2 Oct 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes A pirate website attempted to impersonate Versailles Casino, based in Charleroi. With just a few clicks, Internet users could be fooled by a fake platform posing as legal. The Belgian courts reacted firmly by ordering the immediate blocking of the site, mobilising ISPs and digital giants.
Digital spoofing is a cause for concern
In Belgium, operating an online casino is a highly regulated activity. Operators must obtain a licence issued by the Gaming Commission (GC), an essential condition for guaranteeing the safety of players and the legality of operations. However, despite this strict framework, some ill-intentioned players circumvent the rules.
This is exactly what happened at Versailles Casino, an online gaming room operated by Sonic SA, based in Gilly, Charleroi. In recent months, a pirate site has exploited its image by creating an almost exact copy of the legal platform. The address chosen, versailles-casino-be.com, was deceptively close to the real official URL: versaillescasino.be.
The trap seemed unstoppable for a distracted Internet user. On the home page of the fraudulent site, texts boasting an alleged Belgian licence and ‘guaranteed’ security were displayed. In reality, none of it was genuine.
The legal response from the real Versailles Casino
Sonic SA was quick to act in the face of this identity theft. The company took the matter to the French-speaking Business Court in Brussels as a matter of urgency, claiming direct damage and a danger to Belgian players.
The judge ruled quickly: in an order referenced RR/25/00065, he ordered that the illegal site be blocked throughout the country. Since the end of September 2025, the fake Versailles Casino has been inaccessible to anyone connecting from Belgium, unless they use a VPN.
Belgian ISPs have been ordered to block the fraudulent address. But the order goes further: Google, Microsoft, Meta and Cloudflare are also required to remove all traces of the pirate site. In concrete terms, it must no longer appear in search results, nor benefit from online advertising, nor circulate via social networks.
This case is a reminder of the fragility of online casinos in the face of illegal sites, which represent a twofold threat. On the one hand, they expose players to financial losses with no possibility of recourse. On the other hand, they are detrimental to legal operators, who abide by strict rules.
The central role of the Federal Public Service Economy
To implement this ruling, the court was able to rely on the Federal Public Service Economy (FPS), the government’s armed wing in the fight against illegal online activities.
The department, which specialises in protecting against copyright infringement and the illegal exploitation of online gambling, is responsible for ensuring compliance with the order. This mobilisation shows just how seriously Belgium takes the protection of its players and the fairness of its gambling market.
A digital war that is far from over
This case highlights a structural problem: the proliferation of illegal sites. While Belgium voluntarily limits the number of B and B+ licences in order to control the sector, foreign or anonymous platforms continue to target the Belgian public.
For Sonic SA, the battle is far from won. The company has saved its reputation and protected its customers in the short term, but remains vigilant. The question remains: how many players have already been tricked by the fake Versailles Casino before the courts intervened?
There is more at stake than just a court case. Trust is the cornerstone of legal online casinos. Every time an identity is stolen, this relationship is undermined. A player fooled by a fake site could lose not only his money, but also his trust in the industry as a whole.
This case could serve as an example to other operators facing the same type of threat. While Versailles Casino was able to rely on a swift court order, not all players have the resources to initiate such a procedure.