Belgium’s regulated gambling market totaled €1.62 billion in 2025, with online gaming growth of 5.41% offsetting a 7.17% decline across land-based venues.
Belgium gambling revenue 2025 shows €1.62 billion total GGR with online gaming at €964.4 million (+5.41%) and land-based at €656.1 million (-7.17%). Online now represents nearly 60% of Belgium’s regulated market.
- €1.62 Billion Total GGR
- Online Casinos Drive Growth
- Land-Based Sector Contracts
- Illegal Gambling Concerns Rise
€1.62 billion total gross gaming revenue. Belgium’s regulated gambling market generated this figure in 2025, representing a marginal year-on-year decrease of around 0.1%. Newly published figures from the Belgian Gambling Commission (Kansspelcommissie, KSC) show online operators generated €964.4 million to €964.5 million in GGR during the year. Land-based gambling revenue moved in the opposite direction, declining 7.17% to €656.1 million. As a result, online gambling accounted for nearly 60% of Belgium’s regulated gambling market in 2025.
€1.62 Billion Total GGR
The performance marked a return to growth for online gambling after a decline in 2024. Despite that earlier setback, the sector has expanded substantially in recent years, including strong growth between 2020 and 2023. Belgium’s regulated gambling market remained largely unchanged in 2025, with growth in online gaming offsetting declines across much of the land-based sector. The marginal 0.1% decrease signals market stability despite structural shifts.
The latest data highlights a continuing shift toward digital gambling. Online operators generated €964.4 million to €964.5 million in GGR during the year, an increase of 5.41% compared with 2024. Land-based gambling revenue moved in the opposite direction, declining 7.17% to €656.1 million. The KSC published these figures to track market evolution and regulatory effectiveness.
Belgian players wagered €2.75 billion online during 2025, with 91.11% of stakes returned as winnings. This return-to-player ratio remains competitive across European markets. The online market’s expansion came despite a substantial reduction in the number of new customers entering the regulated sector. First-time registrations with licensed online operators dropped 43.1% year-on-year, falling from 193,342 in 2024 to 110,032 in 2025.
Online Casinos Drive Growth
Growth within Belgium’s online market was driven primarily by casino products. Online casino operators reported GGR of €554.1 million, an increase of almost 13% year-on-year. The segment represented roughly 58% of all online gambling revenue during the year. Online betting also posted gains, with revenue rising 5.18% to €244.6 million. The figures show online betting remained the dominant channel within the betting sector, accounting for 66.5% of total betting revenue.
Betting shops contributed 23.75%, while betting-enabled newsagents represented 9.64%. Not all online products experienced growth. Revenue from online arcade-style games and slots declined for a second consecutive year, falling 13.66% to approximately €165.8 million. The decline suggests market saturation in certain segments despite overall digital growth.
Even with fewer new registrations, engagement among existing customers remained strong. Average daily active online players increased by 3% to 160,144. However, the total number of individuals who gambled online at least once during the year declined from 602,288 to 528,706. According to the KSC, part of this decline reflects legislative changes that raised the minimum gambling age from 18 to 21 on 1 September 2024.
Land-Based Sector Contracts
The land-based gambling market experienced a more difficult year overall. Traditional casinos were the only offline segment to report growth. Casino venues generated €152.28 million in revenue, up 5.85% from the previous year. Other categories recorded declines. Gaming halls and arcades produced €184.74 million, down 4.17%, while cafés and similar venues offering low-stakes gaming machines saw revenue fall 17.77% to €196 million.
Betting shops, newspaper agents and racecourses collectively generated €123 million, representing a 6.60% decrease. Average daily attendance at land-based gambling venues also declined significantly, falling from 36,470 visits in 2024 to 27,532 in 2025. The betting sector’s breakdown showed varying trends across channels. Revenue from betting-enabled newsagents decreased 5.08% to €35.45 million, while betting shops generated €87.3 million, down 7%.
Revenue attributed to bookmakers fell sharply compared with 2024, though the regulator noted that reporting differences between years affected comparisons. The annual report comes as the introduction of a new regulatory framework governing betting activity in betting-enabled newsagents. Under the updated rules, Class F2 licensees may operate a maximum of four betting terminals or computer applications, accept wagers only between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., and must ensure annual betting stakes do not exceed €250,000. Betting activity may also account for no more than 20% of a venue’s yearly turnover.
Illegal Gambling Concerns Rise
Alongside market performance data, the KSC highlighted growing use of player protection tools and increasing concerns about unlicensed gambling activity. Voluntary self-exclusions reached 66,998 by the end of 2025, up from 56,458 a year earlier. During the year, the regulator processed 16,358 self-exclusion requests, with 75.98% submitted through the digital identification platform itsme. Since 1 May 2025, gambling operators have been required to verify all customers against Belgium’s Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS) before granting access.
The regulator recorded 715,373 blocked access attempts during the year, including 690,074 online. Industry association BAGO argued that the latest figures point to a growing migration of players toward unlicensed operators. The organization referenced a KSC survey conducted by DataSynergy among 1,000 individuals aged 18 to 30, which found that 28% had used an illegal gambling website and 53% had gambled recently. “The fact that 28% of respondents aged 18 to 30 state they have already played on an illegal gambling site is an alarm signal that cannot be ignored,” BAGO declared, according to Global Gaming Insider.
BAGO called for stronger action against illegal operators and their financial networks while backing efforts to strengthen the regulator’s capabilities. KSC Chair Magali Clavie noted that the commission requested the removal of more than 8,500 advertisements on Meta platforms that used the branding, logos, or visual identity of licensed Belgian gambling operators without authorization. Following this enforcement action, the regulator continues monitoring both legal and unlicensed market segments. AGBrief tracks similar regulatory enforcement across European jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Belgium’s total gambling revenue in 2025?
Belgium’s regulated gambling market totaled €1.62 billion in 2025, representing a marginal year-on-year decrease of around 0.1%. Online gaming generated €964.4 million while land-based venues produced €656.1 million.
How did online gambling revenue change in 2025?
Online operators generated €964.4 million to €964.5 million in GGR during 2025, an increase of 5.41% compared with 2024. Online casinos specifically reported €554.1 million, up almost 13% year-on-year.
What happened to land-based gambling revenue?
Land-based gambling revenue declined 7.17% to €656.1 million in 2025. Traditional casinos were the only offline segment to report growth, up 5.85% to €152.28 million, while other categories fell.
Why did first-time online registrations drop in 2025?
First-time registrations with licensed online operators dropped 43.1% year-on-year, falling from 193,342 in 2024 to 110,032 in 2025. Part of this decline reflects legislative changes that raised the minimum gambling age from 18 to 21 on 1 September 2024.
How many self-exclusion requests did the KSC process in 2025?
The regulator processed 16,358 self-exclusion requests during 2025, with 75.98% submitted through the digital identification platform itsme. Voluntary self-exclusions reached 66,998 by the end of 2025, up from 56,458 a year earlier.
What percentage of Belgian players used illegal gambling sites?
A KSC survey found that 28% of respondents aged 18 to 30 had used an illegal gambling website, and 53% had gambled recently. Industry association BAGO called this an “alarm signal” requiring stronger action against illegal operators and their financial networks.
What new betting rules affect newsagents in Belgium?
Under updated rules, Class F2 licensees may operate a maximum of four betting terminals or computer applications, accept wagers only between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., and must ensure annual betting stakes do not exceed €250,000. Betting activity may also account for no more than 20% of a venue’s yearly turnover.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
