How many Belgians gamble? The figures may surprise you 

Nearly one in three Belgians participates in gambling activities. Behind this figure lie very different habits, ranging from lotteries and sports betting to casinos and online gambling. Data from the Belgian Gaming Commission also reveals a market undergoing significant transformation. 

Online gambling now dominates the Belgian market 

The Belgian gambling market is undergoing a major transformation. While land-based gambling establishments are losing ground, digital platforms account for an increasing share of the sector’s economic activity. 

According to the Belgian Gaming Commission’s 2025 annual report, gross gaming revenue (GGR) reached exactly €1,620,552,557. This indicator represents the difference between the amounts wagered by players and the winnings paid back to them. Compared with the €1,621,707,086 recorded in 2024, this represents a slight decrease of just 0.07%. At first glance, the sector therefore appears almost unchanged. However, the evolution of the different categories of gambling establishments tells a different story. 

Online gambling activities generated approximately €964.5 million in 2025, an increase of 5.41%. They now account for 59.51% of the Belgian market, compared with 56.42% a year earlier. 

In contrast, land-based establishments generated approximately €656.1 million, a decrease of 7.17%. 

This trend is also reflected in visitor numbers. Land-based gambling establishments recorded an average of 36,470 daily visits in 2024, compared with just 27,532 in 2025. 

In 2023–2024, 27.1% of Belgians reported gambling offline, compared with 14.8% online. Online gambling has grown significantly since 2018, when only 7.9% of respondents reported gambling on the internet. In just a few years, this proportion has almost doubled. 

Nearly one in three Belgians has gambled at least once 

To understand how many Belgians actually gamble, it is important to distinguish between the revenue generated by operators and the number of people participating in gambling activities. 

The results of the 2023–2024 Health Interview Survey provide valuable insights into this question. According to Sciensano, 31.9% of Belgians aged 15 and over participated in at least one gambling activity during the twelve months preceding the survey. This proportion remains relatively close to the figure recorded in 2018, when 30.8% of the population concerned reported gambling. 

It is also important to distinguish occasional players from those who gamble regularly. Around 8% of Belgians gamble every week, while three people in every thousand report gambling daily. 

The figure of 31.9% therefore does not mean that one-third of the population regularly visits casinos or betting websites. It includes everyone who participated in a gambling activity at least once during the period studied. 

Lotteries attract far more Belgians than casinos 

Contrary to some common assumptions, casinos and sports betting are not the most popular forms of gambling participation in Belgium. 

Lotteries and scratch cards are by far the most widespread activities. According to Sciensano’s data, 29.5% of Belgians participated in a lottery or purchased a scratch card. 

By comparison, only 6.1% took part in activities such as betting, casino games, or poker. 

These figures show that, for a large proportion of the population, gambling is limited to forms of participation that are generally more occasional. 

Men, women, and generations: who gambles the most? 

Sciensano’s findings show that 36.2% of male respondents gambled at least once during the year studied, compared with 27.7% of women. 

The difference is not limited to participation rates. It is also reflected in reported spending. Among people who gambled, the average amount spent on gambling reached €32 per month. This average rises to €40 for men, compared with €21 for women. 

Age is another distinguishing factor. People aged 45 to 54 have the highest participation rate, at 41.8%. This age group also stands out for its interest in offline gambling, with 37.4% having participated in such activities. 

Younger adults, however, display different habits. Among those aged 25 to 34, 20.2% gambled online, making them the age group with the highest online gambling participation rate according to the survey. 

Why is the number of new online gamblers falling so sharply? 

In 2024, 193,342 people registered for the first time on a licensed online gambling platform. In 2025, this number fell to 110,032. This represents a decline of 43.1% in just one year. 

Such a significant change might suggest that Belgians are turning away from online gambling on a large scale. However, other indicators point to a more nuanced situation. 

The number of unique online players fell from 602,288 to 528,706. At the same time, the average number of daily active players increased by 3%, reaching 160,144. Licensed operators are therefore attracting fewer individual players overall, while recording slightly more active players each day. 

Since September 1, 2024, the minimum age for participating in gambling and betting activities with licensed operators has been set at 21 in Belgium. This change has had a direct impact on new registration statistics. 

Among 18- to 20-year-olds, the number of new players registering with licensed operators fell from 33,197 in 2024 to zero in 2025. 

However, the decline is not limited to those directly affected by the new age restriction. Among 21- to 29-year-olds, new registrations fell from 59,097 to 44,350 over the same period. 

The rules governing the National Lottery remain different from those imposed on gambling and betting operators. In December 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled that this difference in treatment was unjustifiable. It gave lawmakers until December 31, 2026, to address the issue. 

Illegal gambling websites raise concerns among Belgian authorities 

According to the regulatory authority, some people who no longer use licensed platforms may be turning to illegal gambling websites. This possibility is particularly concerning for younger players and those who gamble frequently. 

A survey conducted among 1,000 young adults aged 18 to 30 provides further insight into this issue. Among respondents, 53% reported having gambled recently. More concerningly, 28% said they had already used an illegal gambling website. Among 18- to 20-year-olds, 39% also reported having gambled despite the restrictions applying to certain gambling activities. 

These findings highlight the limitations of statistics collected exclusively from licensed operators. Such data makes it possible to measure activity within the regulated market but does not capture all gambling behavior that may take place on unauthorized platforms. 

How many Belgians are at risk of developing gambling problems? 

Beyond the economic figures, the question of individual consequences remains essential. 

According to Sciensano, 2.6% of Belgians aged 15 and over are at risk of experiencing harm related to their own gambling behavior. Among all respondents, 0.6% fall into a high-risk category. Men appear more exposed, with a rate of 3.7%, compared with 1.5% among women. 

When considering only people who gambled during the previous year, the proportion of at-risk gamblers rises to 7.7%. 

An important distinction should be made regarding these results: they are based on an assessment questionnaire and do not constitute individual medical diagnoses.