Belgium Online Gambling
- Belgium Online Casino
- Belgium Online Gambling
- Belgium Online Gambling License
- Belgium Online Gambling Tax
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Belgium Online Casinos. From all of the above, the conclusion is that online gambling is legal and regulated in Belgium. Players can access Belgium-based online casinos, but also international online casinos that hold a license to operate on the market. Therefore Belgian players have access to a wide variety of online casinos.
Gambling in Belgium is legal entertainment. The organization of the gambling business has been authorized since May 7, 1999. Online gambling has been legalized since 2002. The Belgian Gambling Commission regulates the gambling market and issues licenses.
Today the country operates:
- 3 hippodromes;
- 9 land-based casinos;
- over 2,600 bet acceptance points.
According to 2015 data, the gross income from the gambling business in Belgium amounted to 360.1 million EUR, of which 54.6 million is the income of bookmakers.
Belgium gambling legislation
Belgian law permits the organization and provision of gambling. Any entertainment in the course of which bets are placed are considered as such. Their list includes:
- card and board games;
- slot machines;
- sports betting.
Gambling does not include sports events themselves. Also, card and board games at carnivals and fairs and those organized for the purpose of charity are not considered gambling.
Belgium Online Casino
Any activity in the field of gambling is permissible only with a license issued by the Belgian Gaming Commission. Advertising of unlicensed establishments and participation in games on such sites is punishable by law.
Gambling regulators and laws
The Belgian Gaming Commission regulates the activities of gambling sites. The Commission operates in accordance with the Law on Gambling, adopted on May 7, 1999, and with the Law on Legalization of Online Gambling of 2002.
In the online gambling business, there are two additional royal decrees. According to the first, the operator is obliged to provide information about his name, site structure, server and contacts. The second requires the provision of information about:
- the operator’s creditworthiness;
- fiscal obligations;
- marketing policy of the company;
- protection of personal data and customer transactions;
- policy regarding socially vulnerable groups of the population.
Thus, the decrees require constant interaction between operators of online gambling sites with the Belgian Gaming Commission.
The provision of gambling services is taxed. The tax is 11% of the operator’s gross revenue. Since July 2016, the value added tax at online casinos has been increased to 21%.
License conditions
The Belgian Gambling Commission issues several types of licenses. Among them:
- Class A license – issued to a casino for 15 years;
- A + – online casino organization;
- B – gambling halls with slot machines, issued for 9 years;
- В + – online slot machines and arcades;
- С – issued to drinking establishments, allows placing slot machines;
- D – license for the activities of all previous classes;
- E – license for the sale and purchase, import and export of equipment for gambling;
- F1, F1 + and F2 are betting licenses. Allows you to accept bets at land-based bookmaker outlets, online and from mobile devices.
- G1 and G2 – licenses for holding lotteries and tournaments with the participation of television and the media.
The type of license in Belgium is paid. A casino license costs 15,000 EUR, gambling halls – 7,500 EUR, sales and repairs of equipment for gambling – 2,500 EUR. A company can hold only one type of license.
An application for a license to the Belgian Gambling Commission is submitted with a number of documents. These include:
- IDs of the founder / founders of the company;
- certificate of observance of political and civil rights;
- certified copies of tax returns (last three);
- extract from the court report (no later than three months from the date of receipt).
Also, in order to obtain permission to organize a gambling business, it is necessary to form insurance capital. The amount of capital depends on the type of license:
- А, А + – 250,000 EUR;
- B, B + – 75,000 EUR;
- E – 25,000 EUR;
- F1 – 10,000 EUR;
- F1 + – 75,000 EUR;
- G1 – 80,000 EUR.
Licensed Gambling
The list of permitted gambling is regulated by royal decree. It complements the 1999 Gambling Act. In Belgium casinos, table games and automatic games are allowed. Table games include poker, baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, sic bo, bingo. Automatic – slots, betting terminals, video poker and others.
For establishments of different classes, there is a list of games supplied using slot machines. The following slots are available in the casino:
- with reels and video slots;
- video poker;
- digital versions of bingo and keno;
- terminals with bets on horse racing;
- wheel of Fortune.
It is allowed to place slot machines (up to 30 slot machines) and digital versions of table games in the gaming halls:
- black Jack;
- poker;
- roulette;
- terminals for bets;
- bones.
No more than two machines can be placed in drinking establishments. Of the permitted games – an electronic version of billiards.
Laws protecting clients of land-based and online casinos
Citizens over the age of 21 have the right to visit casinos and gambling halls. Persons over 18 years of age can play machines in drinking establishments and place bets. In all types of establishments, except for casinos, payments are made in cash. Bank cards are accepted only in land-based establishments and online casino sites if the transaction amount exceeds EUR 10,000.
Bets in casinos and gambling halls are accepted by coupons or chips. They are purchased for real money. Prize coupons and chips can also be exchanged for real money in establishments. The only bets accepted in real currency are sports betting.
The limits for bets, losses and wins are determined by the King of Belgium:
- in gambling halls, a player can place bets no more than 25 EUR per hour;
- in pubs, the total hourly rate does not exceed EUR 12.5;
- at the points of acceptance of bets, you can place no more than 12.5 EUR per hour.
Any violation of the Gambling Act by operators is punishable by a penalty of one month to three years. A fine of EUR 0.64-2 478 will also be charged. In the event of a repeated violation, the penalties are doubled, the money of the institution is also seized and the equipment for gambling is confiscated.
Online gambling in Belgium
Online gambling has been allowed in Belgium since 2002. A +, B + and F1 + licenses are only issued to individuals or companies who are physically represented. That is, to organize online sports betting, you need to have a license from an F1 bookmaker and own at least one real betting point.
The popularity of online gambling is growing every year. The growth in demand can be traced by analyzing the reports of the annual profits of online establishments. Thus, in 2014, the revenue of online casinos amounted to 54 million EUR. This is twice the income reported in the 2013 report. Online gambling halls brought in 49.8 million EUR in 2015, and bookmakers that accept bets on sites – 46.3 million EUR.
To date, registered in Belgium:
- online casino – 101;
- internet poker rooms – 14;
- sites for sports betting – 21;
- sites with online bingo – 18;
- mobile online casinos – 14;
- online lotto – 3;
- sites for betting on fantasy sports – 2.
The most popular online casinos providing services in Belgium are:
- Omni Slots provides a 100% deposit bonus on the first deposit of 300 EUR + 50 free spins. Site languages - French, German, English;
- Betsupremacy Casino offers a 100% deposit bonus when you deposit 300 USD. Site languages - English and German;
- 7Bit Casino – provide a welcome bonus of 100% of the maximum deposit of EUR 100 and 175 free spins. Site language – English;
- BetAdonis Casino with a 100% deposit bonus for deposits up to 115 EUR. The site is provided in English and German;
- Casino Room – provides two types of deposit bonuses: 100% when you deposit 500 EUR + 60 free spins on Starburst slot with promo code BONUSCR and 100% when depositing 500 EUR + 80 free spins on Starburst slot machine with promo code CRBONUS.
In addition to online slots, bets and table games, other gambling entertainment is also popular in Belgium. These include bingo, bingo and fantasy sports. Also, the popularity of mobile casinos has been growing recently.
Popular slot machines
In Belgium, the most popular slots are modern slots with numerous bonuses, plot and 3D animation. The list of favorite slots for online users includes products from Betsoft, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, NYX Gaming and QuickSpin. Among them:
- Viking Age (Betsoft);
- Gonzos Quest (NetEnt);
- Queen of Gold (Pragmatic Play);
- Titan Thunder (QuickSpin);
- The Spin Lab (NYX Gaming).
Among the machines with digital table games, Belgians prefer the products of NetEnt, Playtech and iSoftBet. Analyzing the lists of popular applications in online casinos in Belgium, we note that games with a high-quality visual component, a convenient control panel and various additional features are in great demand.
Even new and not so well-known companies (for example, Endorphina) are more successful than the monsters of the gambling industry – Greentube and IGT. This is primarily due to the fact that the audience of gambling establishments, including online sites, is “getting younger.” The number of women playing is also increasing. Unlike men, they prefer bright and varied gameplay.
Belgian casino software developers
Today, there are no well-known Belgian online slots developers in the global gambling market. Manufacturing companies working in the gambling business are mainly engaged in the creation of equipment and software for land-based casinos. These include:
- Belgian Gaming Technology;
- Elaut N.V. (Victory & Dice Roulette);
- GAA;
- Seeben.
Belgian Gaming Technology supplies casino equipment, distributes physical slot machines from global manufacturers, provides service and technical support.
Elaut N.V. (Victory & Dice Roulette) is a developer of equipment for land-based casinos. The company produces roulette and craps, creates combined platforms for table games.
GAA is a developer and supplier of board game and bingo equipment.
Seeben – Provides computer hardware and software for casinos in Belgium.
Prospects for the development of gambling business in Belgium
Today the gambling industry in Belgium is legalized and quite developed. Gambling services are delivered both in land-based establishments and online. Most of the companies represented in the Belgian gambling market are national. However, the Gambling Commission also cooperates with world renowned providers.
For example, Belgians use the well-known poker rooms Poker Stars and Party Poker, which are not owned by national operators. Betcenter and Canadian developer Income Access launched an affiliate program last year. And the management of the reputable national brand Circus Group has entered into a partnership with the developer of software for casinos Betsoft.
The Belgian government plans to further support the integration of the national and global gambling market. At the same time, the country’s legislative framework will continue to adhere to the policy of protecting users from gambling addiction, regulate permissible bets and loss limits, and blacklist dubious platforms.
Findings
The gambling business in Belgium is strictly regulated by law. Land and online establishments operate exclusively under licenses issued by the Belgian Gaming Commission. Every year, the commission reviews various online sites, checks their reliability and monitors the market. Suspicious or banned sites are blacklisted.
The gambling industry in Belgium generates multi-million dollar revenues and at the same time cares about the safety of consumers. The decrees of the King of Belgium regulate the limits of bets and losses within an hour. Such measures have been taken to combat gambling addiction.
Belgium is one of Europe’s smaller countries. Sharing borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France, the country has plenty in common with ease of these nations. However, its gambling laws are its own, and to any player based out of Belgium, the laws of the land may seem strict, overly so. If you are thinking about betting online in Belgium, there are certain things you are going to want to be made aware of. What can Belgians gamble on? What types of casinos can they play at, and are there any punishments for visiting offshore and foreign sites? Will aim to reveal all right here.
An Overview of Gambling in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium takes a hard line when it comes to online gambling. However, players need not be too dismayed. The European nation has legalised online gaming to a degree, even if there are several restrictions concerning what you can and cannot get away with.
Gambling online is legal in Belgium for all players who are aged 21 or older. The current Belgian gambling laws date back to 2011 and are unquestionably messy. Belgium has several different gambling licenses available, depending on the type of service an operator wishes to offer. Since the change in the laws, all operators catering to players in Belgium must have obtained a gambling license from the Belgian Gambling Commission, known locally as the Kansspelcommissie in Flemish, and Commission de Jeux de Hasard in French.
Belgians are permitted to play in any of the ten or so land-based casinos scattered throughout the country. They are also eligible to play at any online casinos which feature licenses issued by the commission. There are not too many of these. Poker is popular in the country, and although there are no official laws governing the game, poker sites are considered legal.
Lottery games fall under the Lotteries Act and the Federal Act of 2002. These dated laws ensure that lotteries games are legal, both online and offline. Bingo is defined as a table game in Belgium, and thus it is available at all casinos (online or otherwise) which have obtained a license to provide table games to players. What about sports betting? Under Belgian law, high-street bookies are permitted to offer sports bets if licensed, and the same is true for online sportsbooks.
About Belgian Offshore Casinos
Belgium takes a hard line when it comes to offshore casinos. Each commune’s police force takes action to force ISPs (internet service providers) to shut off access to any foreign sites they come across. Belgium has an official blacklist of domains which are not permitted to offer their gambling services to players in the country, and the list is extensive.
Because Belgium actively blocks all access to offshore casinos, Belgians are required to use a VPN (virtual private network) if they wish to play at those domains. Some of the poorer VPNs will be unable to break the geo-block restrictions in place, but a semi-decent one can. Belgium actively fines operators who provide gambling services to Belgians without a licensed from the Belgian Gambling Commission. The country’s gambling authorities are not believed to crack down on individual players who take advantage of these services, although the “STOP” warning followed by the police force’s logo is enough to frighten many players.
Belgium’s Most Played Casino Games
Casino Games
Because of the nature of Belgian gambling licenses, players will often struggle to find licensed domains which offer several different types of games. This would involve holding several different licenses at the same time. As each gambling license is costly, most internet betting sites in Belgium tend to specialise in specific games. There are notable exceptions, of course, such as the biggest and most prominent operators in the world, who can easily afford such licenses.
These are the gambling games you can expect to find at Belgian domains:
Slots:Slot machines are widespread at Belgian online casinos. These games typically come from smaller-scale providers, and not the major developers such as Microgaming or Net Entertainment. A few home-grown operators also dish out titles to players in Belgium, which makes some of these casinos’ games rather unique.
Dice Games: Dice games are hugely popular in the European Union country. These are not games such as craps and sic bo. Instead, they are dice slots, which is a concept seldom found outside of the country. Popular with players across Belgium, they can be found in virtually all major sites.
Table Games: Belgian casinos do carry table games, although the array of titles you can choose from is not likely to be as extensive as you will find at other leading casinos. You are likely to find one or two variants of roulette, blackjack, and baccarat, but the more obscure table games are less likely to spring up at Belgian casinos. Expect both low and high-limit games to be available, too.
Live Dealer Casino Games: Only a handful of Belgian online casinos currently offer live dealer casino games. In most cases, these will be provided by the smaller developers, and not the most recognisable brands. There are always exceptions to be found, though.
Poker Games: Poker games are popular in Belgium. While it is possible to find a few RNG (random number generator) based poker games up for grabs at online casinos, you will find proper tournaments and games more commonplace at poker rooms. These online poker rooms seldom offer other types of casino games.
Lottery, Keno and Bingo: Sites which offer lottery games are not permitted to provide other forms of gambling games unless licensed to do so. Keno and bingo games are both considered to be table games in Belgium, so can be found in instant win format at a fair few Belgian online casinos.
Sports Betting: Sports betting is licensed and regulated in the European country. These online bookies may carry casino games, too. It is typically only the larger, more renowned sites which do so. Smaller Belgian bookies are unlikely to cough up for a typical gaming license, so do not expect to find too many offering typical casino games.
Taxes on Big Wins at Belgian Casinos
The tax situation for Belgians is relatively straightforward. The state does not charge taxes on any winnings you acquire from lotteries, sports betting, poker, or gambling games. However, if you were to land a sizeable win, you might find yourself liable to pay income tax on the interest you earn from those winnings.
The same is not true for gambling companies. Operators must fork out notable fees to obtain gambling licenses in Belgium. As there are several licenses, these fees soon add up. On top of that, operators in the Belgian gambling market must also pay tax on revenue made from players in the country.
The Best Belgian Online Casinos to Join Today
Websites Info
Belgian players are strongly advised to play at Belgian Gambling Commission licensed casinos. However, it is not a mandatory requirement. Although it is difficult to get access to an offshore or foreign casino without a decent VPN, it is certainly not impossible. Many Belgians choose to do this, on account of the Belgian authorities not punishing them for doing so.
Belgium Online Gambling
Whether you decide to play at an offshore casino, or a locally licensed one, the things you should look for in a top Belgian casino remain the same. These include:
Belgian-Friendly Bonuses: Belgian online casinos are quite strict when it comes to promotions and bonuses. Operators must jump through hoops to ensure that they do not have restrictive terms and conditions on their offers, and this makes them worth much less than at offshore casinos. Naturally, many Belgian players, therefore, prefer to play at foreign sites. If you do so, make sure that any bonus you are thinking of claiming can be snapped up by Belgians, as not all can.
French and Flemish Language Gameplay: Belgium is home to three official languages in French, Flemish (Dutch) and German. The latter is spoken by a small number of players. English is also widely spoken in the country. Any online casino you are thinking of joining should offer gameplay in at least French and Dutch, if not the other two.
The Euro Currency: Belgium is a member of the European Union and the Euro Zone. Therefore, any casino you opt to play at should accept the euro currency. If not, you could find yourself subject to charges for converting deposits and withdrawals.
Belgian Payment Methods: Belgians like using MisterCash and Bancontact to deposit and wager. These two favoured methods are popular whatever a Belgian may wish to spend money on. With that in mind, any casino offering their services to Belgians would do well to carry them. On top of that, Belgian casinos will typically offer a range of card-based options, but e-wallet deposit methods are rare in Belgian Gambling Commission licensed sites.
Your Favourite Games: As mentioned, there are various licenses for numerous games. You will want to ensure that you are playing at a site which carries several licenses. This way, the Belgian online casino can provide you with access to several games. Naturally, this is not likely to be so much of an issue at offshore casino domains.
Reliable Support Options: Belgians rely on phone support quite frequently for other things, so a decent online casino will also offer this method of support for free, and in French and Dutch at the very least. On top of that, Belgian casinos should also provide live chat and e-mail support. This may be on a 24/7 basis, but that varies from site to site.
Belgium Online Gambling License
Fast Cashout Times: If you are playing at a Belgian licensed casino, the odds are good that you will be able to cash out your winnings rather rapidly. However, offshore casinos may be much slower at processing these transactions, and that is something worth bearing in mind.
Belgium Online Gambling Tax
Belgians, as we have said, have two vastly different ways that they can play online. They can opt to play at Belgian Gambling Commission licensed sites, but these are few and far between and often quite heavily regulated. Alternatively, they might choose to play at offshore casinos, which have a far more extensive selection of games, but you may have to jump through hoops via VPNs to play there. Ultimately, there are numerous examples of both which represent the best casinos for Belgian players, so the choice is yours.