Why Belgian gambling halls are increasingly targeted by robberies

Physical gambling halls in Belgium are facing an alarming wave of armed robberies. Whilst the online gambling market is becoming increasingly strictly regulated, local gambling halls and their visitors are an easy target for criminals looking for a quick cash haul.

Robberies at physical gambling establishments and gaming halls continue to occur in Belgium. Whilst online gambling is becoming more strictly regulated, recent incidents in the physical sector reveal a pattern that cannot be ignored.

Criminals deliberately target small gaming halls with limited security

Serious criminals are avoiding the large casinos and shifting their focus to smaller betting shops. These venues often still operate with cash and simply have fewer security staff and personnel on the floor late at night.

In cities such as Ghent and Antwerp, there have been several robberies at local gambling halls in recent years. Perpetrators usually target the day’s takings and strike just before closing time. These are rarely high-profile incidents, but that is precisely why they remain under the radar.

Large cities remain the most vulnerable

The pressure is highest in Brussels, Antwerp and Charleroi. There are more gaming halls in these areas and they attract higher footfall. This makes it easier for perpetrators to strike and disappear quickly.

In Brussels, there have been several armed robberies in recent years in which staff were threatened. In Antwerp, police services are seeing more frequent, smaller-scale, rapid incidents involving knives or threats, sometimes linked to local crime.

The coast and smaller towns are not spared either

It is striking that coastal towns such as Ostend and Blankenberge also feature regularly. The risk rises particularly during busy periods, when there is more cash on hand.

In smaller towns, these are often night-time robberies with limited loot, but the impact on staff is significant. Employees are often alone and suddenly find themselves facing violence or intimidation.

Some examples of robberies at casinos and gambling establishments in Belgium (2021–2025)

2025

• Blankenberge – casino
  Armed robbery in which the perpetrators stole money from the till. Police launched a manhunt along the coast.
• Brussels (city centre) – gaming hall
  Robbery in the evening. Suspect threatened staff, no injuries. Perpetrator fled.

2024

• Antwerp – betting shop
  Perpetrator threatens employee with a knife and flees with cash. Linked to a series of minor robberies.
• Charleroi – gaming hall
  Armed robbery involving a firearm. Rapid response; one suspect arrested.
• Ghent – gaming hall
  Night-time robbery at a small gambling hall. Limited haul, but significant impact on staff.

2023

• Liège – casino/gaming hall
  Robbery by masked perpetrators just before closing time. Investigation focuses on an organised gang.
• Oostende – gaming hall
  Attempted robbery foiled after staff intervened. Perpetrators fled the scene.

2022

• Brussels – betting shop
  Armed robbery involving a firearm. Suspects later identified via CCTV footage.
• Antwerp – gaming hall
  Afternoon robbery, targeting the day’s takings. Perpetrator quickly apprehended.

2021

• Charleroi – betting centre
  Violent robbery involving multiple perpetrators. Victims suffered minor injuries.
• West Flanders (coastal region) – casino area
  Incident in which perpetrators targeted a cash-in-transit vehicle linked to gambling activities.

Robberies targeting players are also a notable trend. Criminals lie in wait for players who have won and then rob them, as happened in Steenokkerzeel. 

Gangs lie in wait for successful players in the car park 

It is not just the casino’s vault that is a target. Criminals are increasingly waiting for successful players outside, as was painfully evident in the brutal robbery in Steenokkerzeel.

Although some schemes fail, as was recently the case just across the border in Sluis, the physical sector remains a magnet for quick cash. As long as physical cash remains the norm, you face a real security risk as soon as you walk out the door with a large haul.