Belgium under pressure: illegal online gambling costs EU countries €22.9 billion

9 Jul 2026

Like other European countries, Belgium is increasingly having to deal with the consequences of illegal online gambling. New figures show that the illegal gambling market in the European Union accounted for a gross gaming yield of €91.6 billion in 2025. As a result, the 27 Member States are estimated to have lost out on €22.9 billion in tax revenue.

Economy

Soft2Bet: the illegal gambling empire

Alex D.

8 Jul 2026

Investigate Europe accuses Soft2Bet and its partners of being linked to a vast network of illegal online casinos targeting European players, including Belgians.

Sensation

Belgium losing online gamblers offshore: ‘drops to European average’

Ron Emmerink

8 Jul 2026

Belgium is becoming less successful at keeping online gamblers within the licensed circuit.

Legislation

Belgium the EuroMillions lucky country again? 5 jackpots in a single year

Caroline B.

7 Jul 2026

Belgium seems to have become the ultimate EuroMillions lucky country over the past twelve months.

Sensation

Gaming1 CTO Christophe Boniver: ‘AI must serve players in a more personalised and responsible way’

Ron Emmerink

7 Jul 2026

Gaming1 is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, personalisation and responsible gaming. According to CTO Christophe Boniver, the future of the gambling industry lies not in offering even more games, but in creating experiences tailored to the individual player.

Sensation

FIFA lifts Balogun’s suspension for Belgium clash following pressure from Trump

Ron Emmerink

6 Jul 2026

FIFA lifts Folarin Balogun’s suspension: US striker cleared to play against Belgium, World Cup betting markets react immediately.

Sensation

Advertising loopholes targeted in Belgium

Sarah C.

6 Jul 2026

Calls for tougher rules on gambling advertising are growing in Belgium. Despite recent restrictions, experts believe that operators continue to circumvent the ban, notably through sport, spin-off brands and digital channels.

Legislation

Belgian players at risk – AI recommends illegal casinos

Ron Emmerink

5 Jul 2026

The debate surrounding the black market for gambling took on a new dimension this week. iGaming.com highlighted a previous joint investigation by The Guardian and Investigate Europe, which revealed that several popular AI chatbots regularly refer users to unlicensed online casinos.

Sensation

Belgian loses €7.5 million on prediction markets during the World Cup

Sarah C.

5 Jul 2026

The name Leeeroyjenkins is currently doing the rounds in the international iGaming sector. During the World Cup, the anonymous user staked no less than 7.5 million euros on a Red Devils victory against Egypt via the prediction platform Polymarket, according to Tijd.be.

Sensation

Polymarket hacked: $3.1 million gone

Alex D.

4 Jul 2026

A cyberattack has hit Polymarket, an online prediction platform, resulting in an estimated loss of $3.1 million in cryptocurrencies for several users. The company states that the incident stemmed from a compromised external software provider and not from a flaw in its internal infrastructure.

Sensation

Michael Schmitt’s disappearance from LinkedIn is raising questions within the iGaming sector

Ron Emmerink

4 Jul 2026

For years, Michael Schmitt used LinkedIn as one of his main publishing channels. Virtually every major Malta Media investigation appeared on the platform, where operators, affiliates, lawyers and regulators followed his posts closely.

Sensation

Kapa Casino School honored in 2026

Alex D.

3 Jul 2026

Brussels-based Kapa Casino School is among the 2026 winners of EU Business News’ Benelux Enterprise Awards. The school received the award for the most impactful training initiative in the casino industry.

Sensation

UGent surveys 16- to 17-year-olds about gambling

Julien D.

3 Jul 2026

Researchers from Deakin University and UGent are recruiting 16- to 17-year-olds for a study on the normalization of gambling, particularly in sports and online.

Sensation

PepperMill Friends joins Red Side Academy

Sarah C.

2 Jul 2026

PepperMill Friends announces its support for Red Side Academy, an initiative linked to KV Kortrijk that welcomes over 400 children and young people free of charge every week in a safe, inclusive environment open to all.

Sensation

Supreme Court ruling on online casinos could have major consequences: Belgium is also watching closely

Julien D.

2 Jul 2026

Tomorrow, Friday 3 July 2026 could prove to be a historic day for the Dutch gambling sector. At 10.00 am, the Supreme Court will deliver its ruling in the long-awaited preliminary ruling proceedings concerning online gambling losses incurred prior to the introduction of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) on 1 October 2021.

Sensation

SEO specialists who highlight illegal gambling practices are being targeted for intimidation

Ron Emmerink

2 Jul 2026

The battle against illegal online casinos no longer seems to be confined solely to Google’s search results. In recent weeks, there has been considerable unrest on LinkedIn after several SEO specialists and researchers, who are involved in exposing the black market for gambling, reported that they had become the targets of intimidation, hacking attempts and threats.

Sensation

Illegal casino affiliates dominate Google Belgium: time for action?

Glen L.

1 Jul 2026

Anyone in Belgium searching for “The best promotions from Belgian online casinos in 2026” would logically expect to be directed to licensed Belgian online casinos or reliable comparison websites that review only legal operators.

Sensation