Belgium’s regulated online gambling market increased revenue in 2025, but a steep fall in first-time players has intensified concerns that more consumers may be turning to unlicensed operators.
According to the Belgian Gambling Commission’s 2025 figures, online gross gaming revenue reached €965 million, up 5.4% from the previous year. Digital gambling accounted for around 59% of Belgium’s regulated market, while land-based gambling revenue fell 7% to €656.09 million.
The growth came despite a major decline in people entering the licensed online market. A total of 110,032 consumers gambled online for the first time during 2025, down 43.1% from 193,342 in 2024. The regulator linked part of the decline to Belgium raising the minimum gambling age to 21 from 1 September 2024, a change covering both online and land-based gambling.
Players aged between 21 and 29 remained the largest group of newcomers. Meanwhile, the average number of active online players per day increased 3% to 160,144, and 528,706 individual consumers used a licensed online gambling platform at least once during the year.
Activity at physical gambling venues moved in the opposite direction. Average daily visits dropped 24.5% to 27,532. Casino GGR nevertheless increased 5.85% to €152.29 million, while gaming arcade revenue fell 4.17%. Revenue generated through bingo and other gambling products in cafés recorded the sharpest decline, falling 17.77% to €196.01 million.
Belgium also recorded increased use of its Excluded Persons Information System, known as EPIS. The number of people voluntarily excluded from gambling reached 66,998 by the end of 2025, compared with 56,458 a year earlier. Authorities processed 16,358 voluntary exclusion applications during the year, with almost 76% submitted digitally.
Since May 2025, operators have been required to check all customers against EPIS before granting gambling access. The system blocked 715,373 attempted online and physical gambling visits during 2025.
The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators, BAGO, said the falling number of new regulated players adds to concerns about illegal gambling. Citing research showing that 28% of surveyed 18-to-30-year-olds had previously used an illegal gambling website, the association argued that tighter restrictions on licensed businesses risk making regulated brands less visible while offshore operators continue targeting consumers.
BAGO said customers using unlicensed platforms do not receive protections such as EPIS checks, regulated deposit limits or supervision from the Belgian Gambling Commission. It called for stronger enforcement against illegal operators and their payment flows while maintaining a clearly identifiable regulated market.
Belgium has tightened its gambling framework significantly in recent years. Most gambling advertising has been prohibited since July 2023, while legislation introduced in September 2024 established a minimum gambling age of 21 and strengthened restrictions on promotional incentives and other operator practices.