Do 10,000 court cases highlight the vulnerability of the Belgian gambling market?
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25 Jul 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes
In Brazil, since the introduction of the new gambling law at the end of 2023, more than 10,000 legal cases have been brought against online betting companies. Most complaints relate to blocked accounts, problems with payouts and terms and conditions that have been unilaterally amended. For Belgium, this may seem like a distant concern, but the underlying warning is relevant here too.
The Belgian gambling market is strictly regulated. Licensed operators must comply with rules on player protection, age verification, payments, advertising and responsible gambling. This is intended to protect players from abuse and problematic gambling behaviour. However, this protection only works as long as players retain confidence in the legal offering.
Trust is the weak spot
The Brazilian figures show how quickly consumer disputes can escalate as soon as a market grows. More players mean more transactions, more checks and, consequently, more disputes over payouts, bonus terms and account verification.
If players at licensed operators feel that winnings are difficult to withdraw, accounts are suddenly blocked or terms and conditions are unclear, frustration sets in. That frustration is dangerous for the legal market.
Illegal operators are quick to capitalise on this. They promise fast payouts, generous bonuses and fewer checks. This sounds appealing to players, especially when they get bogged down with paperwork, verification processes or long waiting times at a licensed operator.
But that is precisely where the risk lies. With illegal operators, there is virtually no protection if something goes wrong. A player may lose their money, be unable to lodge a complaint with a reliable regulator, and often has no guarantee whatsoever that winnings will be paid out.
Belgium, too, must prevent a crisis of confidence
In recent years, Belgium has placed a strong emphasis on restrictions on gambling advertising and stricter monitoring of licence holders. This policy is intended to better protect players. Nevertheless, a tension arises when the licensed offering becomes less visible or less attractive as a result, whilst illegal websites remain easily accessible online.
The lesson from Brazil is that regulation is not just about imposing rules. It is also about clarity, speed and trust. Players need to understand why an account verification is necessary, why a payout sometimes takes longer, and exactly what terms and conditions apply to promotions or bonuses.
If that communication is lacking, it creates scope for mistrust. And mistrust is precisely the opening that illegal providers exploit.
The illegal market capitalises on every frustration
The Belgian Gaming Commission and licensed operators face a clear challenge here. Enforcement against illegal operators remains essential, but it is not enough. The legal market must also remain reliable, transparent and user-friendly in practice.
A player who plays legitimately with a licensed operator should not be left feeling that they are being treated worse than they would be at an offshore casino. If that feeling arises, channelling players becomes more difficult. In that case, the player does not switch to the illegal market out of conviction, but out of frustration.
Brazil demonstrates just how quickly this tension can become apparent. In a growing market, conflicts mount up as soon as players encounter the same problems en masse: withdrawing money, account blocks and suddenly changed terms and conditions.
Belgium must not only be legal, but also feel trustworthy
For Belgium, the key lesson is that a licensed market must not only be legally sound; it must also feel trustworthy to the player.
That means clear terms and conditions, swift complaint handling, transparent payout procedures and clear communication during audits. The better this works, the less likely players are to seek refuge with illegal operators.
The Brazilian court cases are therefore more than just a foreign incident. They serve as a warning to every regulated gambling market. As soon as players lose trust, the illegal market gains ground.