SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
A recent report commissioned by the Belgian Gambling Commission (Kansspelcommissie) has revealed alarming gambling habits of young people in the country.
Looking specifically at those aged 18 to 30, the report, conducted by DataSynergy, suggests that over 25% of this group use illegal gambling websites.
Meanwhile, when considering both sports betting and games of chance, 28% of participants used illegal websites, with 8% exclusively using illegal websites and 19% using a combination of both legal and illegal platforms.
Illegal becoming ordinary
For sports betting, 30% of users played via illegal websites, whilst for games of chance, 22% of users played via illegal websites.
Meanwhile, three illegal websites are amongst the top 1011 most-used gambling sites in the country, and despite the increased minimum age for gambling to 21, one in five 18 to 20-year-olds use such platforms.
The study also confirmed that around a quarter 18- to 30-year-olds can spontaneously name at least one illegal gambling website, whilst 9% spontaneously name only illegal websites, and 16% name both legal and illegal ones.
Legislation changes
The study was conducted after a new ruling came into effect in July 2023, which imposed strict restrictions on gambling advertising in Belgium, as well as a change in September 2024, which increased the minimum age for gambling from 18 to 21 years.
Although the participation rate is lower than in 2023 (39% compared to 51%), gambling among 18 to 20-year-olds still occurs. The restrictions seem to have had a mixed effect on brand awareness, whilst illegal gambling remains a pervasive issue in the country.
Regulatory bodies in charge of market surveillance are now however maintaining increased scrutiny over new forms of betting and gambling.
Similar to England’s upcoming Premier League sponsorship ban, it is important to note that the Kansspelcommissie also announced this year that sports clubs must only accept deals with companies that do not operate gambling.
They can however still use the logo or brand name of gaming operators in some form or another, therefore the relationship between legal betting brands and sports remains close in the country.
Black market betting on the rise
Stake has been cited as one of the most widely used offshore websites in the country, being in the top 10 list without holding an active licence.
The regulator is particularly concerned about the rate of consumer awareness with Stake having doubled from 2% in 2023 to 4% in 2025. Sitting alongside these brands are 1Xbet and 22bet, Parions Sport, Winamax and Pinnacle, to name a few.
It was just last week that Belgium’s Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) revealed that 25% of customers are on the offshore gaming market. The organisation also highlighted that 47% of all players that have self-excluded have started gambling again, this time through unlicensed channels.
Tom De Clercq, Chairman of BAGO, said at the time: “We are on a sloping plane. While licensed gambling sites are subject to strict rules, investing in responsible gaming and actively protecting players, illegal operators are given free rein.
“And that has consequences: more and more people, especially young people and vulnerable target groups, end up in an illegal circuit without rules, without control and without protection. If we do nothing, Belgium is in danger of losing control of its gambling market.”
