Belgium stays under the radar in IBIA Annual Report 2025 – and that’s a good thing
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6 Feb 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes Amid a significant global rise in suspicious sports betting, Belgium is conspicuously absent from the new annual report by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). This is actually a positive signal. While other markets struggle with integrity issues, the Belgian market appears relatively stable.
No reports from Belgium, but quiet on the front
In 2025, the IBIA registered no fewer than 300 suspicious bets, a substantial increase compared to 219 the previous year. Football, tennis, and esports stood out in particular. In 54 cases, actual manipulation was confirmed. Yet, not a single report originated from Belgium. Like the Netherlands, the country remained completely outside the statistics.
According to the IBIA, this emptiness should not be cause for alarm. On the contrary.
“A country with no reports is not automatically a country without oversight. Belgium has a relatively closed, strictly regulated market with fewer vulnerabilities,” stated an analyst.
It is precisely this difference from some open, international markets that may explain why the risk is lower.
Belgian bookmakers are fully participating
For a long time, Belgium was underrepresented within the IBIA. However, bookmakers such as Bingoal (a member since 2020), Gaming1 (2021), and recently Starsports, from Starcasino group (2025) have since joined. As a result, Belgium is now fully integrated into the international integrity monitoring network.
The accession of these parties means that suspicious patterns from Belgium are now effectively shared. According to the IBIA, this is essential, even if the number of incidents remains nil.
“It demonstrates that the sector is operating professionally. And it is precisely by looking that we can confirm that things are quiet.”
Strong regulation forms the foundation
Belgium combines this quietude with a package of strict rules. The EPIS system, which denies problem gamblers access to games of chance, is being renewed in 2025. Illegal sites are actively blocked. New obligations regarding identification, such as authentication via e-ID, reduce the chance of abuse.
According to a former regulator, that is where the strength of the Belgian model lies.
“A controlled market, combined with modern techniques and clear boundaries, makes reports rare. And that is something to hold on to.”
The Belgian situation is therefore encouraging. In a time when the international sports world is increasingly shaken by scandals, Belgium remains remarkably quiet—in the best possible way.