The fees of gaming operators are also going up for physical venues

Maxime

• 30 Dec 2024 • Reading time: 2 minutes

The tax levied on operators for so-called automatic recreation devices such as slot machines or bingo, for example, will be raised again.

Letter from employers’ association proves measure for nothing

The letter from the UBA-BNGO, the employers’ organisation responsible for pub games and gaming halls, in which they raised the erroneous figures reported by the Gaming Commission, clearly missed the mark.

2025 will be the year when once again operators of physical gaming will be dealt a blow by a (new) price hike in the taxes they have to pay to make their devices available.

Rise felt throughout the sector

The upcoming price increases mean that the fees for operators will evolve in the following way per device:

A tax starts at the basic rate, a rate set in the past at 4000, it rises further to 4600, a 15% increase determined in the next coalition agreement of the Flemish government that will apply from 2024-2029. Normally, there is only an increase in the consumer price index which is determined by a complex definition. In the year 2024, the consumer price index was set at 3.32%.

The Flemish tax authority’s website states the following:

‘Specifically, the tax rate for automatic leisure equipment falling under tax category 1 will be increased. The non-indexed basic amount increases from 4,000 euros to 4,600 euros. This increase will take effect for devices that are set up or remain set up from 1 January 2025. This change to the tariff was definitively approved by the Flemish Parliament.’

Operators react with disappointment towards the Gaming Commission

We spoke to an operator who places pub games in Antwerp who was again very disappointed with the Gaming Commission. He only wanted to say the following:

‘The Gaming Commission comes to inspect our pubs almost every week, while the illegal circuit is very active in Antwerp. We do everything every day to fall within the norm of the law and yet they report that we are making monster profits while our entire sector is on hiatus. This increase is yet another jaw-dropping blow.’

Possible gaming increase for online operators still fodder for debate

The Flemish Taxes website also mentions a reform of the rates applicable to online gaming and betting. An increase from 11% to 15% was previously mentioned, but no decision has yet been taken on this. The concrete details of the coalition agreement are still a subject of ongoing negotiations and Gambling Club will keep you informed when decisions are made.

We reached out to the Gaming Commission for comment, but have not received a response.