The study also highlights “alarming” statistics around self-excluded gamblers, around 47% of whom were found to have returned to gambling through unlicensed sites.
“These platforms operate completely outside the legal framework and do not apply any form of control, such as age verification, EPIS registration or deposit limits,” the association said.
“As a result, they expose their s to increased risks, without any protection.”
Among young people, the figures offer an even more stark picture. Before Belgium introduced its ban on gambling for those aged under 21, in 2024, the report suggests almost half of men surveyed aged between 18 and 21 indicated that they gambled on unlicensed websites.“Today, that figure has risen to 65%. It is also striking that 97% of them recognise at least one illegal gambling brand,” BAGO said.
“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,” commented BAGO chairman Tom De Clercq.
“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 s 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.”
