Best Belgium Betting Sites

Belgium is a Western European country neighbouring Holland, France, Luxembourg and Germany. Sports are loved by locals. Football is the most popular one, followed by cycling. It is worth noting that local cyclists hold the most Tour de France victories after the French. Gambling in Belgium dates way back in time. Belgium is actually among the first nations worldwide that invented card games.

Moreover, the local lottery has run since 1934. As for online betting, Belgium is also one of the few European countries to have a fully legal and regulated environment. The online sector welcomed its law framework in 2011, with many international bookies in Belgium offering their services ever since.

Best Betting Sites in Belgium

With quite a few bookmakers accepting local bettors, we list the best betting sites Belgium has to offer. They deliver a wide range of betting markets, as well as high odds on matches of the Jupiler Pro League.

Betting in Belgium - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  All gambling activities have been legal and regulated since 1999
• 2
  The online gambling regulation came into effect in 2011
• 3
  There’s a €500 weekly deposit limit when wagering at a locally licensed Belgium bet site
• 4
  Online betting licenses are valid for 9 years, with an optional renewal
• 5
  The legal gambling age is 18, apart from casinos, where it's set at 21

General info

⏩Population: 11.500.000

⏩Active players: 1.500.000

⏩Currency: Euro

⏩Regulated gambling products: casino games, lotteries, sports betting

⏩Operator types: State-run lottery, land-based bookies and casinos, licensed and unlicensed online bookies & casinos

⏩Designated authority: Belgian Gaming Commission

⏩Status: Regulated

Online Betting in Belgium: The Law Framework

The 1999 Law on gambling pretty much still regulates everything in this Benelux country. As for online betting, Belgium first regulated it in 2011. It was basically no more than just an amendment to the ‘99 law. Lotteries in Belgium are a state monopoly; while there are appropriate licenses for all other types of gambling.

The Gaming Commission regulates everything concerning both online and offline gambling. All gambling companies need to have a physical presence in the country, or else they won't get permission to operate. A license type F+ allows the provision of online sports betting Belgium services.

Applicants need to provide a €75.000 guarantee, plus pay an annual fee of approximately €12.500. The Commission constantly updates its publicly available online list of both licensed and blacklisted operators. Big names like Bwin Belgium are among the ones that welcome local bettors while holding a local license too.

Moreover, each of the three autonomous regions in Belgium applies its own taxation. However, as regards online gambling, it stands at a standard 11% for operators. Other amendments to the 1999 law include clarifications towards players’ safety and against money laundering.

For instance, a max betting limit of €500 per week is applied when gambling on locally licensed operators. Of course, that does not apply when betting on international bookies that accept Belgian players. Lastly, both gambling organizers and players should expect to face the law if drifting outside of the legal framework. For repeat offences, fines for players could reach up to €25.000, while those for companies could be up to €100.000.

Essential Information for Bettors

Betting in Belgium is as straightforward as it gets. The law is clear on all aspects for both companies and players. In that sense, there have indeed been some reports of prosecuting players who were not playing at authorized bookmakers.

So, to put it simply, always use a VPN if you choose to bet with unlicensed Belgian bookies. Then again, caution and discretion should always remain a priority. As for taxes, no tax on winnings is apparent. However, the 3 autonomous regions act independently; sometimes even regarding their economics.

So, It would be better to consult a local law office if betting with licensed Belgian bookmakers regarding gambling taxation. Still, you won’t need to worry about it when betting with other than the locally operating Belgium bookies.

Summing up, a very safe and well-regulated gambling environment exists in the country. Bookmaker shops are everywhere, and international bookies are accepting local players.

Bet Belgium: How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Typically online gambling is only permitted on licensed operators. However, no specific restrictions apply, either from the state or the banks, regarding transactions. The only setback is that for online gambling, Belgium does not allow the use of credit cards. So, funding one’s account should be done carefully if not done on a licensed bookie.

Using e-wallets is an excellent choice in order to lay low. Luckily, all major e-wallets, like Skrill or Neteller, operate in the country. Paysafe is yet another option, and PayPal Belgium will accept local sign-ups too. We would recommend looking for iDeal bookmakers for the best experience. So, pick the one that best suits your needs and enjoy no less than fast and secure transactions.

The Future of Belgium Betting

Before 2011, all online bookies were available to players, and Belgium was a gambling haven. However, it was not as safe as it is nowadays, and dodgy operators were springing up. Generally speaking, a very secure and organized gambling environment exists in the country today.

What one could argue is that the local authorities should probably relax their stance a bit. Other than bookmakers Belgique, international operators are having second thoughts about entering the market. The close supervision and an exhaustive law framework provide clarity and security. On the other hand, the same factors might just be driving away more international bookies from applying for a license.

Gambling Framework in the Neighbouring Countries

Belgium is surrounded by other EU countries, and though gambling is generally legal, it can have very different regulations. This impacts players, both locals and tourists. So let's take a look at how each of the nearby countries deals with its sports betting markets:

⏩ France: has a legal and well-regulated sports betting market. The regulatory authority, ARJEL, oversees the industry, and operators must adhere to specific guidelines to ensure fair play and player safety. This applies to French betting sites as well, so you can enjoy all sorts of gambling.   

⏩ The Netherlands: has recently legalized sports betting. The new legislation establishes a licensing framework, enabling operators to offer their services legally while promoting player protection and responsible gambling. This means that the Netherlands betting sites must cope with local rules regarding domains and app availability sometimes, but your experience will be completely safe.

⏩ Luxembourg: is another example where gambling is legal and well-regulated. The country imposes strict licensing requirements on any bookmaker, and the only form of online gambling that is licensed is the lottery. This means that even though not locally licensed, the Luxembourg betting sites can be accessed freely by all the country's residents.