Belgium warns illegal gambling surge undermines player protection

Summary

Market data from the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) shows that more than two-thirds of online gambling traffic for the most visited sites in Belgium is being redirected to unlicensed operators. The association warns this trend weakens player protections built into the country’s channelling model: users who migrate to the black market lose age verification, exclusion enforcement and access to prevention and support services.

Young adults and self-excluded players are especially exposed: roughly 65% of male gamblers aged 18–21 reportedly play on unlicensed sites, and about 47% of people listed in Belgium’s Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS) continue to gamble via unlicensed platforms. Economically, an estimated 23% of Belgian gambling spend flows to illegal operators, who avoid taxes and do not fund prevention programmes.

Key Points

BAGO data indicates over two-thirds of online traffic for the most visited Belgian gambling sites goes to unlicensed operators.
Around 65% of male gamblers aged 18–21 use unlicensed sites; these operators often bypass age checks and offer aggressive bonuses.
Approximately 47% of players registered in Belgium’s EPIS continue gambling on unlicensed platforms, undermining exclusion protections.
Illegal operators take an estimated 23% of total gambling expenditure in Belgium and do not contribute to taxes or support services.
EU-wide studies estimate €10–12bn in GGR is generated annually by unlicensed operators targeting EU consumers (c.10–15% of EU online market).
Research shows black market growth accelerated after some jurisdictions introduced stricter consumer-protection measures (deposit limits, advertising bans).
Drivers of black market growth include lower friction (no deposit/affordability checks), higher bonuses, fast withdrawals, crypto payments and rapid domain hopping.
BAGO members have adopted a Duty of Care Charter using technology to detect risky gambling patterns and combining this with direct player engagement.
BAGO’s three policy priorities: strengthen enforcement powers to block sites and disrupt payments; assess regulation impact on channelling; ensure consistent rules across market participants.

Context and Relevance

This story highlights a wider European trend: stricter on-paper consumer protections can unintentionally push players to the unlicensed market unless enforcement and market design keep pace. Belgium’s channelling policy aims to concentrate activity on licensed sites, but rising black market share—mirrored in the Netherlands and Germany—suggests regulators must balance protections with realistic routes for players to remain in the legal system.

For regulators, operators and payment providers, the Belgian case underscores the need for stronger enforcement tools, better monitoring of payment flows, and collaboration between industry and policymakers to design measures that do not merely move consumers into unsafe alternatives.

Why should I read this?

Short version: illegal sites are gobbling up huge chunks of the Belgian market and wrecking the safeguards regulators worked hard to build. If you care about policy, operator risk, payments or player safety, this is worth a quick read — we’ve trimmed the noise and given you the essentials.