Philippe Close hits back over the casino
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31 Aug 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes
Philippe Close has responded to criticism surrounding the Brussels casino licence and his position on the board of directors of Sporting Anderlecht.
Philippe Close rejects the allegations regarding the casino
Philippe Close sees no conflict of interest in the Brussels casino case. Appearing on BX1 on Friday evening and interviewed by Fabrice Grosfilley, the Socialist mayor rejected criticism of his role in the appointment of Napoleon Games as operator of the capital’s casino.
The controversy stems from the various roles held by Philippe Close. In addition to his role as mayor of Brussels, he sits on the board of directors of Sporting Anderlecht. However, the football club counts Napoleon Games amongst its sponsors. This situation has led Green Party councillor Benoit Hellings, in particular, to denounce what he considers to be a blatant conflict of interest.
Philippe Close, on the other hand, believes that the link between these two matters is not credible.
“To imagine that I would trade a contract worth 750 million euros for a logo on the back of a shirt is a bit ridiculous,” he said.
The Mayor of Brussels did not merely refute the allegations surrounding his dual role. He also questioned his opponents’ political strategy.
“It is the opposition’s role to stir up controversy,” he said during the interview. “I have no further comment to make.”
Shootings reignite the debate on drug trafficking
The interview was not limited to the casino concession. Philippe Close also addressed the recent violence in Brussels, as several incidents involving firearms have fuelled the political debate on drug trafficking and security.
For the mayor, the response to drug trafficking cannot focus solely on Brussels. He believes it is necessary to look at how drugs enter Belgian territory.
“Drugs don’t arrive in Brussels by parachute,” he summarised.
In his view, the authorities must step up controls at the port of Antwerp, the main point of entry which he associates with the arrival of cocaine into the country.