Stricter gambling rules in Belgium: but does the current policy actually work? 

While Belgium continues to tighten its gambling regulations, the effectiveness of its current policy remains open to debate. Faced with increasingly heavy restrictions, a growing share of Belgian players is now turning toward the illegal market. 

The Belgian gambling sector is once again facing a new wave of stricter regulations. The Gaming Commission (KSC) aimed to crack down harder from 2026 on illegal casinos, weak identity checks, and players trying to bypass current limits. But while the government further tightens the rules, criticism is simultaneously growing that players are increasingly turning to illegal websites. Here is the current state of affairs a few months later. 

According to recent industry figures, one in four Belgians already plays on illegal gambling platforms today. Among young players between 18 and 21 years old, those numbers are reportedly even much higher. Thus, the fight against problem gambling increasingly seems to be turning into a battle against the underground circuit. 

Belgian gambling market has already become significantly stricter 

In recent years, Belgian gambling legislation has changed drastically. The minimum age for online gambling was raised to 21, gambling bonuses largely disappeared, and gambling advertising was heavily restricted. In addition, stricter checks were introduced via the EPIS system, through which excluded players are automatically barred from legal platforms. 

For the Gaming Commission, these measures are still not enough. In recent statements, the regulator emphasized that extra steps are necessary to better protect players and tackle illegal operators harder. 

From 2026, the KSC therefore wants to go even further: 

• stricter identity checks in betting shops and newsagents; 

• more monitoring of online accounts; 

• closer cooperation with banks and technology platforms; 

• faster blocking of illegal websites; 

• expansion of controls around advertising and player protection. 

Illegal gambling sites are growing explosively 

Yet, recent figures show that the illegal supply is precisely gaining ground. The blacklist of prohibited gambling sites grows month after month, while foreign operators try to attract Belgian players increasingly aggressively through social media, influencers, and online advertisements. 

According to various reports, more than 60% of online gambling traffic is now allegedly directed toward unlicensed providers. Younger players in particular appear sensitive to these alternatives, as illegal casinos often impose fewer restrictions. 

There, players find things that are prohibited on legal Belgian sites: 

• high welcome bonuses; 

• hardly any deposit limits; 

• crypto payments; 

• fast registration without extensive verification; 

• access for excluded players. 

Precisely the latter worries the sector. Several studies show that many players blocked via EPIS can still easily access foreign websites without a Belgian license. 

“Overly strict rules can backfire” 

Within the gambling sector, fear is therefore growing that the Belgian approach is missing its mark. Operators and experts warn that over-regulation does not necessarily make players stop gambling, but simply pushes them toward illegal alternatives. 

This tension is becoming increasingly clear: on one hand, the government wants to limit problem gambling; on the other hand, the legal market risks becoming less attractive compared to foreign competitors who care nothing for Belgian rules. 

According to critics, the combination of advertising bans, lower visibility of legal brands, and stricter limits particularly puts channeling under pressure — the principle by which players are consciously guided toward controlled and licensed providers. 

2026 will be a crucial year 

The coming months will be decisive for the future of the Belgian gambling market. The Gaming Commission wants extra resources and stricter powers to take illegal operators offline faster, but at the same time, pressure is growing to critically evaluate the effectiveness of the current policy. 

For while Belgium is often seen internationally as one of the most strictly regulated gambling markets in Europe, the central question remains: 

do stricter rules truly protect players — or do they push a growing group straight into illegal casinos?