Belgium's licensed online gambling sector saw revenues increase in 2025, reaching €965 million, a rise of 5.4% from the previous year. This growth occurred despite a significant decrease in the number of new players entering the market. Conversely, land-based gambling revenues fell 7% to €656.09 million, generating additional concerns regarding illegal gambling activities.
According to the Kansspelcommissie (KSC), the figures show that online gaming now accounts for 59% of the overall market revenue. While total revenues from casinos rose by 5.85% to €152 million, revenue from gaming arcades dropped by 4.17%, and bingo operations suffered an even steeper decline of 17.77%, totaling €196 million.
The KSC noted that recent improvements in data collection were a result of compliance changes implemented in 2024. Licensees are now required to report financial data quarterly in a digital format, bolstered by an increase in staff to better handle the improved data influx.
The number of first-time online gamblers slumped to 110,032 in 2025, reflecting a decrease of 43.1% from 193,342 in 2024. Despite this decline, the average daily number of online players grew by 3% to 160,144, bringing the yearly total of online gamblers to 528,706.
The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) expressed concern, noting that 28% of individuals aged 18 to 30 reported gambling on illegal websites. They emphasized that stringent restrictions on licensed operators have made legal gaming options less visible while illegal operators continue to aggressively market their services.
By the end of 2025, the number of self-exclusion cases recorded in Belgium's Excluded Individuals Information System (EPIS) rose to 66,998, an increase from 56,458 the previous year. Since May 2025, operators of real-money gaming services are mandated to verify player identities through EPIS. In total, the system documented 715,373 blocked gambling visits in 2025.
BAGO raised alarms about the visibility of licensed operators’ games, suggesting that ongoing restrictions could limit exposure compared to non-licensed providers, who remain free to advertise. The organization called for increased action against unregulated suppliers and emphasized the advantages of regulated markets, including EPIS player verification and stake limits.
