In Belgium, a discreet but growing phenomenon is taking hold: the alarming rise of gambling addiction, particularly online. Experts are sounding the alarm as figures show an increasingly worrying situation.
The roots of the epidemic
The current gambling crisis in Belgium has its roots in several major developments. Firstly, the regulation of online gambling and advertising in 2010 opened up new channels for gambling, gradually changing the national landscape.
Secondly, the Covid-19 pandemic has turned everything upside down: lockdown, isolation and increased screen time have provided fertile ground for the rise of online gambling. As Hélène Key, manager of the addiction care association SolutionS in Antwerp, points out:
‘When I started, we received perhaps one request per month for gambling addiction. Today, we receive between ten and fifteen. This week alone, I have received three new cases. The problem of gambling is growing explosively.’
Furthermore, a survey by Sciensano, the Belgian public health institute, reveals that nearly one in three Belgians (31.9%) gambled at least once in 2023-2024 — and that online gambling has almost doubled in five years, from 7.9% to 14.8% of gamblers.
These indicators show that, even if overall gambling use has not changed significantly, the nature of gambling has changed radically.
Who is affected?
The spread of this phenomenon goes beyond the cliché of the isolated gambler: it affects all sections of society. This generalisation is compounded by a particular threat: young adults (aged 18-24) are more vulnerable. The Sciensano study indicates that this age group has the highest risk rate among problem gamblers, with 2.6% of the Belgian population considered at risk, including 0.6% at high risk.
The combination of online gaming, ubiquitous advertising, sports sponsors and social media makes access to these platforms almost commonplace for some young people. In this climate, the call for vigilance from specialists sounds like a warning that can no longer be ignored.
The limits of current measures
Belgium has undertaken several reforms to counter this phenomenon: raising the legal age for participating in online gambling to 21 (since September 2024) and introducing voluntary exclusion methods such as the EPIS register. However, these measures appear to be insufficient or poorly enforced. According to Bram Constandt, professor of sports management at Ghent University:
‘It is too easy to focus on the 1% of people who are highly addicted. This is a public health issue. The damage affects all levels of society.’
It is this fragmented approach that undermines its effectiveness: rather than covering all at-risk gamblers, the measures remain targeted or partial.
Furthermore, the national regulator, the Gaming Commission (GC), now admits that it is overwhelmed: in 2024, the commission had only 38.3 full-time equivalents to carry out its role, whereas 57 were planned for in the staffing plan.
According to experts, controls are therefore too weak, while gambling companies are circumventing sponsorship bans in sport, particularly through advertising ‘back doors’.
In short, the structure put in place is not keeping pace with the growth of the phenomenon.
The invisible illegal market
A key aspect of this crisis is the invisible growth of illegal platforms. A survey by the professional federation BAGO indicates that many Belgian players use unauthorised gambling sites; among those registered in the EPIS exclusion register, some continue to gamble via these unregulated platforms. These illegal sites offer no real protection: no deposit limits, no reliable age verification, no integration with the exclusion system. The danger is therefore much greater.
Another indicator highlights the seriousness of the situation: on 1 November 2025, Belgium had 194,108 people registered in the EPIS system, a record number. This means that despite all efforts, the filtering and support mechanisms are still largely circumvented by this parallel industry.
The conclusion is clear: it is not only the individual gambler who is affected, but society as a whole. Comprehensive, coordinated and rapid responses must be implemented to stop this silent epidemic. Belgium, often perceived as a vigilant country, must now be more bold and effective in protecting its citizens.