The latest research by the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) revealed the need for stronger gambling policy measures in the country.BAGO found out that 3 /10...
BAGO Study Reveals 25% of Belgian Gamblers Use Unlicensed Platforms
A new study by Belgium’s BAGO reveals that 1 in 4 Belgian gamblers are using unlicensed platforms, raising concerns about consumer safety and market regulation.
According to BAGO, the proliferation of unregulated platforms is not only undermining the economic stability of the licensed sector but also endangering vulnerable players who are left without key safeguards such as age verification, self-exclusion enforcement, and deposit limits.
The study also highlights concerning trends among self-excluded players, with approximately 47% reporting a return to gambling via illegal sites, bypassing the national EPIS exclusion system designed to offer support and prevent relapse.
Among young people, the data is particularly obvious. Before Belgium raised the legal gambling age to 21 in 2024, nearly half of the surveyed males aged 18-21 admitted to gambling on unlicensed platforms. That number has since climbed to 65%, with 97% of respondents in that age group recognizing at least one illegal gambling brand.
BAGO chairman Tom De Clercq stated:
“We are on a slippery slope. While licensed gambling sites are subject to strict rules, invest in responsible gaming (think of the Duty of Care charter that we signed in November 2023) and actively protect 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 (like some neighbouring countries) risks losing control over its gambling market.”
BAGO vice-chairman, Emmanuel Mewissen, added:
“In the fight against the plague of illegal gambling, BAGO fully supports the implementation of the coalition agreement, which should give the Gaming Commission the means to develop into a powerful regulator. Only in this way can it effectively tackle illegal providers, protect consumers, and maintain a well-regulated private market.”
BAGO is urging policymakers to prioritize enforcement measures and technological tools that can help monitor, detect, and block illegal gambling activity, thereby protecting players and ensuring a sustainable, transparent gaming environment in Belgium.
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