Licence refused? Belgium has become very strict on gambling sites
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27 Oct 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes Want to start a gambling business in Belgium? These days, you have to jump through a lot of hoops. Since 2024, the Gaming Commission has been much stricter about who gets a licence. And that’s necessary, they say.
They are no longer interested in cowboys or shady characters who want to make a quick buck. Only providers who can demonstrate that they genuinely want to protect players will pass the inspection.
Everything came to a standstill in the summer
The 2024 report states that there was a large influx of applications, but approvals were slow to come. Due to delays in the summer, some files were left on hold for months. Applicants were frustrated, but the Commission stood by its position: better slow and thorough than fast and messy.
The wait was frustrating, especially for smaller companies that do not have endless budgets to keep waiting. However, it later turned out that a large proportion of the applications were rejected. Not transparent enough, no clear information about addiction prevention, or simply having failed in other countries before.
Existing providers are also being tackled
And what about those who already have a licence? They are not safe either. In 2024, several providers received warnings, fines or even temporary suspensions for not following the rules.
This often involved non-compliance with EPIS or offering promotions that are prohibited.
The Gaming Commission makes it clear: a licence is not a free pass. If you don’t behave, you’re out.