GC 2025 Report: BAGO responds
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17 Sep 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes
The use of illegal gambling sites is a cause for concern for BAGO. In a response to the Gaming Commission’s (GC) 2025 annual report, the association of Belgian gambling operators is calling for stronger consumer protection and greater resources for the regulator.
A figure of particular concern to BAGO
At the heart of BAGO’s response is a statistic concerning young adults. According to figures cited by the association, 28 per cent of respondents aged between 18 and 30 say they have gambled on an illegal gambling site. For BAGO, this proportion constitutes ‘a warning sign that cannot be ignored’.
The association believes that the regulator’s latest figures show an acceleration in the use of the black market. Above all, it emphasises a key difference between the two channels: players using illegal sites do not benefit from the protections provided by the Belgian regulatory framework for authorised operators.
What safeguards are missing on illegal sites?
BAGO cites several measures that players cannot rely on when using unauthorised platforms: the EPIS access control system, deposit limits and the oversight exercised by the Gaming Commission.
The association also highlights a legal risk. It argues that players may face criminal prosecution if they knowingly take part in unauthorised gambling.
The association believes that the challenge therefore lies not only in putting protective measures in place, but also in ensuring that consumers can actually benefit from them by directing them towards regulated offerings.
A call to strengthen the Gaming Commission
BAGO also supports the call by Magali Clavie, Chair of the Gaming Commission, for the urgent strengthening of the regulator.
The association believes that a consumer protection policy must ensure that legal offerings remain clearly identifiable. At the same time, it calls on the authorities to prioritise the fight against the illegal market and the financial flows associated with it.