Brussels puts the brakes on the gambling tax increase
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30 Jul 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes
Whilst the Flemish government wishes to increase the regional tax levied on gambling operators, the Brussels-Capital Region is, for the time being, refusing to follow this approach.
A Flemish proposal aimed at joint reform
The Flemish government recently approved a policy paper on regional taxation of online gambling and betting. Its aim is to increase the current 11 per cent rate applied to this activity.
However, Flanders did not wish to act alone. The Flemish authorities consider that this tax falls within regional remit and that an isolated increase could have undesirable effects. Operators might be tempted to relocate their infrastructure to a region where the tax regime remains more favourable.
With this in mind, Flanders had asked the Consultation Committee to examine the possibility of a simultaneous increase in tax rates in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia in order to avoid any tax competition between the regions.
Ben Weyts advocates higher taxation
The Flemish Minister for Finance, Ben Weyts, believes that the current tax regime no longer reflects the reality of the online gambling sector. In his view, land-based casinos, where some form of social control exists, are subject to higher taxation than online platforms.
“It is no longer possible to justify online gambling enjoying a tax advantage when there is not even any social control online. Aligning the tax rate with that applied, for example, to a casino – where some form of social control still exists – would be the most logical decision. But this is Belgium, where nothing is ever straightforward.”
Brussels refuses to change the rules
The Flemish strategy, however, is meeting clear resistance from Brussels. According to reports in De Standaard, the Brussels government does not support an increase in the regional tax on online gambling.
During discussions between the various authorities, Brussels indicated that it did not intend to go along with the Flemish proposal. This stance is partly due to a recent decision concerning the capital’s casino. Brussels has extended the licence for its gaming establishment and, according to Brussels Finance Minister Dirk De Smedt, it would not be appropriate to change the tax rules so soon after this extension.
The original aim was based on coordination between the three Belgian regions to prevent each from applying a different level of taxation. Without Brussels’ support, this approach appears much more difficult to put into practice.
A debate that remains open
Brussels’ refusal weakens, at least temporarily, the prospect of a coordinated reform of gambling taxation in Belgium.
For the time being, no joint decision has been announced between the Belgian regions. The debate therefore remains open, whilst the authorities will have to strike a balance between budgetary objectives, economic competitiveness and the regional organisation of taxation.