Belgian Gaming Commission

The Belgian Gaming Commission was established in 2011, two years after parliament passed the Gambling Act of 1999 instituted the commission. The commission's primary function is to regulate the gambling industry in Belgium, both land-based and online gambling. Advising parliament and government on matters of gambling.

  • Granting licenses for gambling operations.
  • Monitoring gambling activities regarding compliance with the laws.

The Belgian Gaming Commission is chaired by a magistrate and independently carries out all its duties. The board also comprises other key representatives, key among them being the president and representatives of Justice, Economy, Finance, Public Health, Home Affairs, and National Lottery ministries.

Belgian Gaming Commission
Live Casinos Licensed by Belgian Gaming CommissionAbout Belgian Gaming Commission License
Jean-Paul Uwizeye
Written byJean-Paul UwizeyeWriter
Researched byRajesh NairResearcher

Live Casinos Licensed by Belgian Gaming Commission

All live casinos must obtain a license from the Belgian Gaming Commission to offer their services in Belgium. The licensee issues different permits depending on various factors like game types (e.g. games of chance) provided, regional coverage, and others.

The Belgian Gaming Commission is known for having demanding requirements before issuing licenses. It also follows up on licensed live casinos to ensure they operate within the law and hold the stipulated standards. Those are among the main reasons the licenses are so popular, even among international live casinos. Punters also tend to trust Belgian live casinos that have the license a lot more than those with licenses for other jurisdictions.

There are several rules regarding which casino operators can obtain licenses from the Belgian Gaming Commission. For starters, the casino operators must have established land-based operations within Belgium. The operators must also prove their financial capability to run a gambling business as per the set standards. There are no restrictions regarding the nationality of operators. The commission usually blacklists live casino operators who do not obtain licenses, making it difficult for the casinos to offer gambling services - illegal online gambling operators in the country risk prosecution in court.

About Belgian Gaming Commission License

As mentioned earlier, live casino operators must fulfill several requirements to obtain the Belgian Gaming Commission licenses. For starters, live casino operators must provide a certificate of good conduct and have no criminal record to apply for a license. They must also provide copies of their income tax returns, company tax returns, and other relevant documents. Additionally, the casino operators must also produce proof of financial resources and disclose the identity of all shareholders.

Upon application approval, the casino operators must pay several fees, including license deposit, incorporation fee, and local server fee, to process their licenses. The entire process of acquiring a license usually takes three to six months. Currently, the commission licenses more than 16,000 active live casinos.

The commission can impose an administrative penalty on any license holder that violates the law as per the Gambling Act. The penalties can range from something as lenient as a warning to as harsh as suspension or termination of the operator's gambling operations. Such include cases where the public prosecutor has not prosecuted the offenders. The Belgian Gaming Commission can also block players from accessing any licensed live casino within Belgium. That typically happens at the request of casino operators for players who try to cheat the system.

About the author
Jean-Paul Uwizeye
Jean-Paul Uwizeye
About

Born and raised in Rwanda, Jean-Paul Uwizeye seamlessly connects the world of online casinos to Rwandan enthusiasts. With a unique blend of Western gaming insights and deep Rwandan cultural roots, he's a go-to localizer for engaging and relatable content.

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