The Belgium Gaming Commission 2024 Report has opened the gambling industry to new and unique unexpected changes within the market, within the regulations and the behaviours of the players within all the sectors of the gambling industry. The growth of the gambling industry was shown within tougher new rules of gambling regulations.
The newly published findings from Belgium’s Gaming Commission has opened, once again, the heated conversations, or better put, the gambling and gaming market to new and unique unexpected changes within the market, within the regulations and the behaviours of the players within all the sectors of the industry. Expected, in fact, was the negative approach, and another deficit within the report was to be expected, which is evident from the astonishing incoming data.
This has motivated players and gambling operators to shift to more and more restrictive policies, yet market growth is expected to remain steady and positive. From this sector, it is logical to expect the players and market winners to remain and grow under a more restrictive market.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
Last year, the Belgian Gambling Commission reported a gross gaming revenue increase to 1.7 billion euros, which is a 16.74% increase year-on-year. The online gambling market is responsible for more than half of this revenue, increasing 18% year-on-year. These figures form the basis for the Commission report, demonstrating the impact of new regulations and market readjustments.
One of the recurring observations is the imbalance between increasing control and extending market reach. One of the more restrained analysts argues that the overly aggressive advertisement and operational restrictions have pushed marginal players to the unregulated markets. This past year, more than in other years, the Commission’s enforcement arm has imposed a higher number of fines and domain bans.
For players, there is the newly crafted casino guide in Belgium, which maps legal casino operators, documents the bonus limits in the legal operators, and provides the legal and safe ways to participate. It is more of a compliance guide than a promotional tool, so that users know which online casinos are legal.
This all paints a picture of a market that is growing, but constrained, which strengthens the argument of an underlying tension between profit and regulation.
Regulatory Shifts That Took Even Insiders by Surprise
Regulatory policies were expected to gradually tighten in 2024, but changes have been implemented at an unforeseen pace. The Commission broadened its list of blacklisted sites and escalated partnerships with ISPs and banks to suppress unlicensed activity. According to Chambers and Partners’ Gaming Law 2024: Belgium, blacklisted domains vastly increased throughout the year.
The Commission also revised its fine structures in June 2024, which included the lengthening of the administrative penalties that operators face, as civil sanctions are clearly escalating, and criminal penalties are lessening. The same report indicates that the Commission intends to expand its staffing, which also involves plans to adjust the composition of its Control Committee for better oversight.
The advertising restrictions that were implemented in mid-2023 also had unanticipated consequences. iGaming Business reports that even though operators lost visibility in legacy media, they offset the losses by shifting engagement to existing websites and internal loyalty programs. Rather than declining revenue, the policy created incentives for new compliant advertising.
Regulation in Belgium is increasingly immediate and driven by data, resulting in the rapid enforcement of regulations and controlled access for players.
Winners and Losers: Who Stands to Gain (or Lose)?
Without a doubt, licensed operators are enjoying the benefits of the new environment the most. According to the report, enhanced enforcement has caused more players to funnel through the approved platforms, achieving the government’s long-held goal of keeping gambling within the nation’s borders. iGaming Business analysis shows that most of the wagers placed are now channelled to licensed providers due to channelisation.
That said, smaller, domestic operators are increasingly being pressed to the bottom of the competitive hierarchy. This is largely because compliance costs, the necessary cost of absorbing larger fines, and competitive pressure will be devastating. Given cost-sharing compliance, industry analysts expect Belgian market consolidation through mergers.
Offshore platforms seem to be the biggest losers. Many operators have been offboarded from payment processors and had their sites banned. Gamblers who used to exploit unlicensed bonuses, circumventing verification controls, are now left with limited options. This will improve the options available, providing the protective framework that regulators intend.
Public bodies and enforcement agencies are the winners, having increased agency and now reorganised mandates which, for the first time, balance influence within Belgium’s gambling ecosystem.
Player Behaviour Trends That Defied Expectations
TGM Research’s Gambling and Sports Betting Insights 2024 report surveyed players and found that recent regulation led to more gambling adjustments rather than quitting gambling. Even casual participation in online licensed casinos has expanded, suggesting that restrictions may not drive gambling activity underground, as once feared.
Gambling behaviour also seems to change quickly. Young adults aged 18 to 25 have started shifting away from traditional casino games, now favouring sports and micro-bets. This change in gambling preferences suggests the next generation engages differently with gambling than older generations.
Despite weekly loss limits being reduced from €500 to €200, many frequent players were active on a number of licensed sites to help keep their engagement levels. This is seen as a response to regulation, rather than a form of circumvention.
The growth rate of Live and in-play betting, motivated by immediacy and interactivity, also exceeded expectations. These patterns highlight that regulation can influence not only the level of participation in gambling but also the form it will take.
What Comes Next for You
The 2024 report from the Belgian Gaming Commission shows a sector under reconstruction rather than retreat.
Enforcement is stronger, compliance stricter, yet participation remains steady. Irrespective of whether you follow the market as a player, operator, or observer, the coming year will most probably bring about more targeted oversight, more intelligent regulation, and increased consolidation among providers.
Belgium’s gambling market is not under pressure and, instead, adapting in ways that few have predicted. This will be the defining trend of its next chapter.