I have played at an illegal casino in Belgium: The 5 emergency steps (Guide 2026)

6 May 2026

Block your deposits, protect your banking data, and avoid the spiral of secondary fraud: having played at a casino not authorized by the Gaming Commission (KSC) requires immediate action.

Legislation

2026 World Cup: betting soars in France

Sarah C.

27 Jul 2026

The 2026 Football World Cup has generated unprecedented levels of betting turnover. Behind these spectacular figures, however, the authorities and operators highlight a regulated model that funds public finances and sport, but also a worrying rise in illegal platforms.

Sensation

Does a new Google rule open the door to illegal gambling adverts in Belgium?

Ron Emmerink

27 Jul 2026

From 10 August 2026, it will become easier for certain advertisers using Google Ad Manager to purchase adverts for online gambling and social casinos in more countries. In doing so, an important layer of control appears to be disappearing: in certain cases, the end advertiser will no longer need to be certified by Google in advance for this specific channel.

Sensation

The new gambling tax is fizzling out: the illegal market is reaping the benefits

Ron Emmerink

26 Jul 2026

The Netherlands raised the gambling tax to 37.8 per cent on 1 January 2026. The government had expected hundreds of millions of euros in additional revenue, but takings are proving to be significantly lower than forecast. This raises the question of whether the increase in the gambling tax is benefiting the Treasury or, on the contrary, is strengthening the illegal market. The country had already raised taxes in 2025.

Economy

The Namur Casino pavilion is being reborn piece by piece

Alex D.

26 Jul 2026

The former Namur Casino pavilion, designed in 1909 by the architect Georges Hobé, is continuing to be rebuilt thanks to the work of volunteers from the Union des Artisans du Patrimoine (UAP).

Sensation

Do 10,000 court cases highlight the vulnerability of the Belgian gambling market?

Ron Emmerink

25 Jul 2026

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.

Sensation

What the GDPR requires of casinos

Sarah C.

25 Jul 2026

Gambling operators handle a significant amount of personal data every day.

Legislation

9 Belgian projects secure major funding from the National Lottery

Glen L.

24 Jul 2026

Belgian heritage is set to receive a new boost. The National Lottery has announced the award of a total of one million euros in funding to nine projects from five Federal Scientific Institutions.

Sensation

Napoleon Games wins the Brussels casino concession

Julien D.

24 Jul 2026

For fifteen years, the casino on Boulevard Anspach was operated by Viage. That period is now drawing to a close. On 18 July 2026, the City of Brussels officially awarded the new licence to ECK NV, the company that operates the Napoleon Games brand. This decision marks the start of a new fifteen-year cycle for Belgium’s most popular casino.

Economy

The GC adds 5 sites to its blacklist

Alex D.

23 Jul 2026

The Gaming Commission (GC) has published a new update to its blacklist of illegal gambling sites. Dated 17 July 2026, this update adds five new platforms to the list of sites whose operation or access is considered to be in breach of Belgian law.

Gaming Commission

FIFA finds no suspicious betting patterns during the 2026 World Cup

Ron Emmerink

23 Jul 2026

FIFA did not identify any suspicious betting patterns or indications of match-fixing during the 2026 World Cup. All 104 matches in the tournament were monitored in real time by the FIFA Integrity Task Force, which had been set up specifically to detect potential manipulation and irregularities in the betting markets.

Sensation

Polymarket in Belgium: Gambling, crypto or taxable income?

Ron Emmerink

22 Jul 2026

Prediction markets have rapidly become a notable development within the online gambling and crypto world. On platforms such as Polymarket, users can speculate on future events, such as elections, sports matches, interest rate decisions or geopolitical developments.

Economy

The ANJ imposes an administrative block on Polymarket

Caroline B.

22 Jul 2026

The ANJ has just ordered French internet service providers to impose an administrative block on the prediction site Polymarket for promoting an illegal gambling service.

Legislation

The secrets behind online casino game design

Alex D.

21 Jul 2026

The boundaries between video games and the online casino universe are blurring, driven by increasingly immersive progression mechanics. Progression systems, visual rewards, and immersive narratives are no longer the […]

Games

Amazon settles lawsuit over social casino apps; players can claim money

Ron Emmerink

21 Jul 2026

Amazon has reached a remarkable settlement in a US lawsuit concerning social casino apps. The technology company will not pay any compensation itself, but is giving players the opportunity to recover over 201 million dollars from the developers behind the apps.

Sensation

Lack of player protection: €500,000 fine imposed by the ANJ

Sarah C.

20 Jul 2026

The ANJ has issued a €500,000 financial penalty against an online gambling operator for serious failures in its obligations to identify and support excessive or pathological players.

Legislation

EGBA: Super Technologies joins the board of directors

Caroline B.

20 Jul 2026

The EGBA is expanding its board of directors with the arrival of Super Technologies. The stated objective remains the harmonization of safety and player protection rules across the European market.

Economy

Google tightens its gambling policy, but little is set to change in Belgium

Ron Emmerink

19 Jul 2026

From 14 September 2026, Google will implement stricter checks on which companies are permitted to advertise gambling via its advertising platform. It is not just individual advertising accounts that will be assessed; umbrella accounts belonging to casino groups and marketing agencies may also lose their authorisation in the event of repeated breaches.

Sensation